TVwithThinus has been told that the SABC has now taken a definite decision to cancel its weekday talk on SABC3, Real Talk with Azania, with Real Talk that will end at the end of February as repeat episodes are burnt off in the timeslot until March.
Real Talk with Azania is currently airing repeats.
The SABC responded to a media enquiry on Monday seeking clarity on whether Real Talk has now indeed been cancelled, with the SABC that said it will only be releasing a media statement on Tuesday.
For now Real Talk has been removed and no longer appears on SABC3's schedule from March.
Unconfirmed rumours somehow suddenly started swirling in September 2018 that Real Talk on SABC3 was cancelled, although the SABC has not taken any decision at that time to do so.
The SABC denied the rumours that the scandal-damaged Real Talk, produced by Cheeky Media, was cancelled and said that the public broadcaster's TV division was currently in its planning cycle and that no ideas around programming had been finalised.
Those plans are now however crystalising with Real Talk that after the end of February won't be continuing for the foreseeable future.
In September 2018 the SABC told parliament that it's working on yet another SABC3 reinvention and brand and demo target shift for the struggling channel and that SABC3 will reposition itself yet again in 2019 with a focus on "strengthening our talk".
Real Talk doesn't form part of that "strengthening our talk" plan.
Things turned sour for Real Talk with massive brand and reputational damage for the show and SABC3 in December 2017 in a "pay-for-play" scandal when the SABC broadcast two episodes on SABC3 in which then-host Anele Mdoda interviewed and fawned over the caustic and controversial former minister of social development, Bathabile Dlamini as well as her publicist Lumka Oliphant.
Unknown to viewers, undeclared to the audience and completely against SABC rules, the department paid and SABC took payment, without disclosing to viewers that they are watching paid for "talkomercials".
Taking payment from politicians for interviews, as well as taking payment for interviews without disclosing it to the public is against the SABC's own editorial policy. The SABC board got involved and met about the serious lapse that damaged the SABC's integrity.
Anele Mdoda abruptly quit Real Talk in June as viewership of the already low-rated show tanked further and later criticised the slow response to respond to it in public, with SABC3 and Cheeky Media that rebranded the show with the credible Azania Mosaka who took over in mid-June 2018 to see out the rest of the current season of Real Talk.
Neither Real Talk, Anele Mdoda or SABC3 ever directly addressed the controversial issue on air although a Real Talk producer said most brands pay to be on the show.
UPDATE Tuesday 29 January 2019 - 17:37:
The SABC now confirms what TVwithThinus reported on Monday, that Real Talk on SABC3 has been cancelled.
The SABC in a statement tells me: "The SABC would like to announce that SABC3's talk show programme Real Talk will not be returning for a 5th season, when the current episodes of Real Talk, which are repeat episodes conclude. The decision was taken following the new direction which the channel will be taking."
"The SABC would like to thank Cheeky Media for their hard work and dedication in delivering Real Talk to SABC3 audiences."
UPDATE Tuesday 29 January 2019 - 17:37:
The SABC now confirms what TVwithThinus reported on Monday, that Real Talk on SABC3 has been cancelled.
The SABC in a statement tells me: "The SABC would like to announce that SABC3's talk show programme Real Talk will not be returning for a 5th season, when the current episodes of Real Talk, which are repeat episodes conclude. The decision was taken following the new direction which the channel will be taking."
"The SABC would like to thank Cheeky Media for their hard work and dedication in delivering Real Talk to SABC3 audiences."
