''In the new 19:30 timeslot, Isidingo will now compete with e.tv's Scandal! with the hope of attracting new viewers,'' says the 13 year old SABC3 soap, confirming the news TV with Thinus exclusively broke RIGHT HERE last month, that the Endemol produced soap is switching timeslots from 18:30 to 19:30 from October.
''The much anticipated decision was reached as a result of the channel wanting to attract a new market, while also still maintaining current viewers of the soap,'' says Endemol. ''SABC3 did a trial run of the 19:30 timeslot in February this year during the ICC World Cup when Isidingo moved to 19:30 to make way for the cricket.''
''The soap achieved outstanding viewership results during this period, with an 7,6 AR and a 17,5% market share in the target audience of all adults LSM 7-10 during the period of 22 February to 1 April.''
''Moving Isidingo to 19:30 gives us the opportunity to service our target market better as many of them will have been back hom by that time,'' says Lefa Afrika, SABC3 programming manager. ''Isidingo at 19:30 makes not only SABC3 primetime interesting, but certainly changes entire TV primetime viewership patterns across the week,'' he says.
''This is indeed a new era for Isidingo in more ways than one,'' says Pumla Hopa, Isidingo executive producer. ''Over the past 13 years Isidingo has always been an innovative and ever-evolving programme, responding to the realities of the public. This move to a later timeslot is another step in Isidingo's journey, and we look forward to new viewers welcoming us into their living rooms.''
''A different and later timeslot also allows us at Isidingo to examine potential new audiences and explore exciting storylines which will not only keep on grabbing our existing viewership, but also win over a whole new audience,'' says Andrew Wilson, Isidingo's head writer.
''Endemol and SABC3 have been discussing the option of Isidingo at 19:30 for some time now,'' says Sivan Pillay, managing director at Endemol. ''The Isidingo stories generally seem more suited to a later timeslot as the series has always been able to postulate harder hitting social topics than its competitors. Also statistically speaking, there are more viewers potentially available at 19:30 as the recent test proved. We are delighted to be in this new timeslot as it will allow Isidingo to maximize its potential.''
