Television penetration, television viewing and pay television subscribers in South Africa keeps growing with 9 out of every 10 South African adults who now watches television at least once a week.
The latest AMPS June 2011 that measures media consumption, reach and use (as well as other media and products) says television in South Africa has now passed the 90,3% mark, which means that 9 out of every 10 South African adults now tune into the medium at least once a week. Improved electrification and TV set ownership are behind these gains.
It's also sadly bye-bye to the VCR in South Africa. The incidence of VCRs are falling steadily - from 11,8% to only 10,1% of South African households, meaning that this once beloved technology is becoming obsolete as people simply rely on an abundance of repeat programming on linear television or acquiring PVR technology.
Ownership of TV sets is significantly up from 84% in December 2010 to 85,8% in AMPS June 2011.
More South African households also have pay TV, which is a clear indication that the addition of TopTV has not cannibalised the pay TV market but has grown the overall television market, as well as the pay TV market in the country together wth DStv and M-Net. From a previous 20,7% of all households - basically one fifth of total TV households - about 24,3% of all TV households now have pay TV in South Africa.
More South Africans are also watching TV online. In AMPS June 10 only 0,3% of people watched TV online, compared to 0,5% currently. Television viewing on a cellphone is at 0,8% and slowly growing.
Gaining viewers were SABC1, SABC2, DStv, TopTV and community television channels in South Africa.
SABC1 is watched by 78,1% of all adults at least once a week (up from 76,8%). (The increase comes from more viewers in rural areas and the Eastern Cape, as well women between 25 - 34.) SABC2 is watched by 66,8% of all adults at least once a week (up from 68,4%) despite less viewers in Gauteng. (The increase is thanks to more viewers in rural areas and Limpopo, as well as women between 25 - 34.)
DStv is getting close to at least one of the channels (excluding terrestrial channels) being watched at least once a week by a quarter of South Africa's adults. DStv is currently seen by 22,5% of adults each week, up from 20,2%. Gains were seen in the 15-24 and 35-49 age groups.
Community television in South Africa is also slowly growing their respective audience base, which ha grown from 5,1% to 6,8% with especially CTV (Cape Town Television) showing strong growth.
TopTV that started in May 2010 has their first audience figure and comes in at reaching 1,1% of the total South African adult population each week.
