The SABC botched 7de Laan by broadcasting a wrong episode on Tuesday evening on SABC2 and spoiling storylines, giving industry insiders yet another indication of how the SABC's internal control and playout check systems have apparently weakened.
The SABC's latest 7de Laan mess comes
just a week after new episodes that were kept by the production company were
rushed to the SABC2's playout centre in Auckland Park last week Monday, after a
long-delayed and overdue new contract finally got signed.
The mix-up with the wrong episode play-out
order of 7de Laan on SABC2 is very likely a handling and play-out
slotting order error that resulted because of the rushed way the SABC scrambled
to get new episodes physically delivered and stacked for broadcast last week.
It comes after the production company, Danie
Odendaal Productions, decided to withhold all further episodes of the new 1818th season unless the SABC signs a new contract.
SABC executives scrambled to put pen to paper
for a new contract of which the signing was delayed for months, in order to get
new episodes that started playout last week Monday.
On Tuesday evening SABC2 messed up by showing
viewers a wrong, future episode out of sequence with the Afrikaans soap's
ongoing weekday narrative. Viewers immediately swarmed to complain about being
confused, wondering if they've missed something, and getting the story spoilt.
The production company – not responsible for
how the SABC handles and slots episode for broadcast on its channels like SABC2
– immediately apologised, saying "we apologise for the wrong episode that was
aired tonight due to unforeseen circumstances. 7de Laan will look into
the matter".
Insiders told TVwithThinus that what happened is
definitely not Danie Odendaal Productions' error but the SABC's fault and that "everybody is waiting on the SABC to tell the production company and viewers
how the broadcaster is going to fix the mistake".
SABC publicist Zandile Nkonyeni, didn't
immediately respond to a media enquiry on Wednesday seeking
comment about the latest 7de Laan mishap but if there's a responsefrom the SABC it
will update here.
Furious 7de Laan viewers ‘lost’
Meanwhile furious 7de Laan viewers on SABC2
started venting, saying they're "lost".
"I was so confused. I thought I missed an
episode. Can't understand why Alexa and Justin are being nice to each other.
She was still angry with him yesterday," said Cheryl Garris du Toit on
Facebook.
"I’m so confused," said Yusuf Davids. "I
wonder how did Connie come to Charmaine's house?" Corne Botha said "The SABC is
pathetic", and Renee Westhuizen chipped in: "What are the people at 7de Laan
smoking? Tea leaves?"
Unknown to viewers, best practice for
broadcast playout by TV channels sees TV channels usually stack and slot
episodes into their playout systems at least a week in advance.
Episodes – like the 7de Laan episodes
– are also supposed to go through a physical visual and audio audit at the
broadcaster, as what happens at other broadcasters, to check the actual video
and sound quality, possible parental guidance and age restriction additions, ad
breaks and promo insertions and standards adherence.
It's likely that in the rush to slot new
episodes, since the SABC's programme acceptance department had much less time
than last month, the error crept in.
In April 2012 the SABC caused viewer outrage
when SABC3 botched the finale and reunion of Survivor, showing all
episodes in the wrong order without the broadcaster’s final control mix playout
centre noticing anything wrong for hours. One SABC staffer was disciplined and
another eventually dismissed.
