Isidingo, SABC3's sole local weekday soap, will be introducing yet another new title sequence, starting this evening at 19:00 on the public broadcaster's commercial TV channel.
The Endemol Shine Africa produced soap last changed its on-air title sequence almost 6 years ago in June 2011 but so many cast members shown in that one have since left that despite edits to focus on only the main cast of the soap, it had become cumbersome for SABC3 to show it.
SABC3 says the Isidingo title sequence has "become outdated and need to be renewed to strongly echo the new vision of the show".
From tonight Isidingo viewers will hear an updated version of the theme music.
The Isidingo title card lettering will switch from silver on black to a gold-plated effect to distinguish it from the title card of SABC2's Venda language soap Muvhango of which the morning repeats have been returned to SABC3's programming schedule from April after an absence of a year.
The new Isidingo opening title also seems to somewhat troll rival soaps Scandal! and Rhythm City on e.tv creatively, with a golden ribbon urban effect similar to Rhythm City's effort of a blue energy bolt racing through urban streets, and Scandal!'s interspliced slow-mo luxury brands shots.
The updated title sequence is the start of more changes to the 18 year old Isidingo over the next few month that Endemol Shine Africa calls "a re-vitalisation process", likely similar to the SABC2 soap 7de Laan that was ordered to not just make changes on camera in terms of cast and sets but also production wise behind the scenes.
Isidingo, with a revolving door of writers and producers the past few years, has been struggling in the ratings race and lures around a million viewers to SABC3 that pales in comparison with the public broadcaster and rival e.tv's local soaps and telenovelas.
Endemol Shine Africa says Isidingo is "reverting, with drive and determination, to the essence of Isidingo".
"The show needs to represent the new SABC3 brand while still maintaining its thrilling and captivating story lines all of which should be evidenced from the first minutes of the show," says Pumla Hopa, Isidingo executive producer.
