Saturday, October 14, 2017

A+E Networks Africa apologises for stuck-on-repeat Married at First Sight SA broadcast blunder on Lifetime as DStv subscribers slam the show.


Disappointed and angry viewers divorced and tuned out the first new episode of the second season of Married at First Sight South Africa on Friday night when unexplained technical issues marred the broadcast on Lifetime (DStv 131) and saw the episode stuck in an endless loop of repeating the same insert without any intervention.

On Thursday the Lifetime Africa channel run by A+E Networks Africa, a subsidiary of A+E Networks UK, told viewers to "brace yourself for the unexpected season two of Married at First Sight SA".

The unexpected thing that however ended up happening on Friday the 13th, turned into an embarrassment for sponsors Telkom and 1Life, MultiChoice, A+E Networks Africa and production company Oxyg3n Media headed up by Rebecca Fuller-Campbell, when the same 15 minutes of the episode kept repeating four times over without any fix or on-screen advisory, apology or notification.

During the show Lifetime Africa on social media said it's a technical glitch and that it will be "sorted out soon", however the hour ended with no fix and yet another repeat after the last in-show ad break.

It's not the first time that the stuck-on-repeat happened with Married at First Sight SA on Lifetime and viewers slamming the "internal deficiencies" were not happy.

After the Groundhog Day-like endless repeating started, furious viewers who wanted to watch the second season of Married at First Sight South Africa said they're tuning out of the show, while some started mocking the show, saying they know what's going to happen next and after the next commercial break.

"MAFSSA just got a 100% divorce rate," said Michelle on Twitter, while another viewer weighed in with "why is the same thing showing every 15 min followed by an ad break? Married at First Sight SA - what a waste of an everything. Poor show."

Thabang Mawela wanted to know why "Lifetime South Africa are trashing a good franchise. This is a joke" and another viewers remarking that "guess there will be a new position open for a logger on Monday. Hit me up."

"Sorry, after watching the overseas ones, sorry this is just pure incompetence. You're not ready yet," said Mambhele Manaka.
"Why are you playing the same over and over, I'm never watching this show again...first impression lasts," said Yonwaba Boyana.
"Fire everyone Lifetime SA you guys need new staff! Clearly not a single individual can take charge and sort this out," said Lynne Nietz.




"I knew she'd say, 'I woke up one day, I was 26 and I was single' in tears because it's repeated three times. Lifetime you owe us two times the episodes," said Nkosazana.

— Luvuyo Mkumatela (@Luvuyom) October 13, 2017 I'm going to watch Muvhango rather," said Luvuyo Mkumetela - referencing SABC2's Venda soap.

The show that did a special reunion episode last week to catch up with previous participants, will screen the same episode of last night - hopefully corrected in its full hourlong length - tonight at 19:10 on Lifetime.

A+E Networks Africa quickly responded to a media enquiry made Friday night about the show's broadcasting blunder on Lifetime caused by the playout centre, apologising for the "Friday the 13th" mistake but not explaining why the technical mistake happened.

Lifetime Africa said sorry to viewers who tuned in and who didn't know what was going on and that A+E Networks Africa is themselves disappointed that fans couldn't watch the episode.

"Due to technical difficulties during episode 2, segment one was repeated throughout the show," said Nazarene Khan, head of marketing and sponsorship at A+E Networks Africa in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus.

"Lifetime Africa apologises to our loyal viewers for this technical hiccup. We are disappointed that fans of the show were unable to watch it in its entirety. The good news is that viewers will have chance to catch up during the following slots."

The episode will repeat on Saturday (14 Oct) 10:55 and 19:10, Sunday (15 Oct) 21:40, Monday (16 Oct) 07:35 and 14:20, Wednesday (18 Oct) 07:35 and 14:20 and Friday 20 Oct at 20:00.

This will be followed by the 3td episode of Married at First Sight SA in its correct timeslot at 20:50.

"Please note that this will affect the broadcast of Bride and Prejudice (episode 2) on Friday 20 October. This will be moved out by a week to accommodate the double bill of Married at First Sight South Africa season 2," said Nazarene Khan.
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