Viewers are saying they will follow High Rollers, that the SABC wants to dump prematurely before the end of its third season contract, to e.tv or M-Net – a possible move that will further weakening the ratings challenged SABC3 should a rival broadcaster take over the prime time local drama series.
The South African TV production industry,
viewers and artists are shocked at the SABC's bizarre decision to can the
casino-set local drama series from Rous House Productions months before it's
supposed to end.
The SABC's shock cancellation puts the cast
and crew of High Rollers out of work just before Christmas.
The South African public broadcaster's
shocking move comes despite SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng repeatedly doing
lip-service in 2016 that the the SABC values local content, is upping the local
content quota for SABC3 to 80%, and that he is spearheading the charge for
greater job security as well as better and longer contracts for struggling
local actors and artists.
An online petition (found here) started to save High Rollers from SABC cancellation keeps adding signatures and a flurry of comments from
angry viewers, upset artists and production workers across South Africa,
slamming the SABC for its shortsighted and the as yet unexplained move.
Insiders are now saying that the SABC is
allegedly readying a massive pay-out for the remainder of High Rollers’
contract that would have stretched well into 2017.
It means that the SABC will be paying out and
wasting a large amount of money, not getting local content in return for it, and
paying to not show a local series it signed a contract for and now wants off
the SABC3 schedule prematurely.
In May the SABC renewed High Rollers
for a third season of 156 episodes and extended it from three to five episodes
per week but now wants it gone.
The SABC, asked about its plan to cancel High
Rollers cancellation, said "the SABC is not in a position to discuss its
contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third
parties including the media".
The Independent Producers Organisation (IPO)
that says it represents, protects and promotes the interests and
needs of producers, declined to comment when asked and didn't publicly want to
voice support for the High Rollers production.
The South African
Screen Federation (Sasfed) says the SABC's move wanting to cancel a contract
prematurely "establishes a very dangerous precedent".
The South African
Guild of Actors (SAGA) says the High Rollers cancellation will have a "profoundly negative impact on the production company and the 103 members of
cast and crew" and that SAGA is deeply concerned that the SABC is willing to
cancel production contracts before their scheduled prescription.
Part of bigger
SABC content devastation
The broad-based
public pressure group SOS Coalition, fighting for better public broadcasting in
South Africa, told TVwithThinus on Thursday that "it's very unclear, much like
most things SABC,under what circumstances the contract is being prematurely
terminated".
"However, in light of the radical and continued decline of SABC3's
audience share, it appears that the may be linked to the devastation that the
entirely unplanned for 90% local content directive issued by Hlaudi Motsoeneng
has wreaked on the SABC's TV and radio offerings generally, and SABC3 specifically".
"Ours is not a
position against high local content thresholds across the full range of
offerings on the SABC," says the SOS Coalition, "but about sound planning, the
shaping of a strong business case for all content produced for and by the
SABC,to ensure that the organisation remains viable and sustainable in what is
becoming an increasingly hostile industry".
"Unfortunately, in
light of the arbitrary decision-making at the highest levels, purging of
skilled staff, the unlawful writing off of the commissioning protocol and
seeming award of commissions to pals, it doesn’t appear as though there is much
leadership in the SABC at a point where it is needing it more than ever," says
the SOS Coalition.
New lease on
TV life elsewhere?
If the SABC goes through
with abruptly removing High Rollers within the next month from the SABC3
schedule, the possibility exists that the show could jump to rival broadcasters
like e.tv or M-Net in 2017.
Producer brothers
Luke and Josh Rous struggled for four and a half years to finally get their
well-received show accepted by the SABC but with the public broadcaster that
doesn't want it anymore, e.tv or M-Net could possibly take it over.
M-Net has broadcast
similar type shows to High Rollers in the past – like the drama series Jacob’s
Cross that's been seen on both the SABC and M-Net.
High Rollers would also be a local drama take-over coup for e.tv that's been
steadily investing in more glitzy dramas with high-end production values that
would make sense for its own schedule.
"High Rollers
is a great production," said outraged viewer Sphesihle Khumalo. "Please do not
take away South African content that we can actually relate to and enjoy".
"I will actually
consider cancelling my SABC TV licence if this show is removed," said Rianette
Cluley. "It's one of the few good local offerings. Hope e.tv snatches if
up if it is cancelled".
"If the SABC goes
through with this, I hope it is picked up by e.tv" said Michael Harris.
"This is the only
decent show left on SABC3 after Days of Our Lives was taken off," said
Penny Kemertgoglou. "If the show is cancelled, I will never watch SABC3 again.
Neither will I pay my TV licence”.
