Why Idols on Mzansi Magic had less votes for season 16 in 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

After a few years of successive, growing record-breaking voting tallies for Idols, the reality singing competition show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) experienced its first ebb this year with 6 million fewer votes than last year although ratings held steady – something that the producers are contributing to the impact of Covid-19 on the show’s pay-TV audience.

Idols voting kept surging over the past few years, going from 83 million votes in 2016, to 98 million in 2017, and 142 million votes in 2018. A whopping 186 million votes were cast during 2019’s 15th season, with 36 million of those during the show’s last week.

This year’s 16th season, however, didn’t see Idols break its own voting record again, with votes that fell slightly by 6 million votes to a still impressive 180 million votes overall, with 29 million votes that were cast by viewers during Idols’ last week.

The 18-year old Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga became the winner of the 16th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday night with the season finale that was broadcast during Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions in South Africa from the State Theatre in Tshwane.

She faced off against Mr Music (Lungisani Mthethwa) from Richard's Bay in KwaZulu-Natal in the Top 2 Idols season 16 live finale broadcast with the season that host and co-executive producer Proverb (Thapelo Thekisho) on Sunday evening described as "very difficult circumstances".

The 16th season of Idols, once again produced by [SIC] Entertainment, continued to draw huge audiences to MultiChoice's DStv for its latest season. 

Idols lured 1.18 million viewers for its most-watched episode in November 2020, making it the highest-rated reality and general entertainment show on all of DStv, and the third most-watched show on DStv after drama series Gomora and The Queen both on Mzansi Magic as well. Ratings were slightly down from 2019.

Idols has been renewed for a 17th season on Mzansi Magic in 2021 with initial auditions that will take place virtually because of Covid-19 and with dates and details that will be announced soon.

After the conclusion of the Idols season finale, the traditional post-show Idols season finale press conference with Mzansi Magic, the production company and the winner and runner-up took place on Sunday night at the State Theatre at 20:00.

It took place virtually this year and was broadcast to media across South Africa on DStv channel 196 that was unencoded specifically for journalists who had to submit typed questions to the panel. 

With the vote tally for the season and for the last week that are slightly down in 2020 from 2019, TVwithThinus asked what the producers attribute the lower vote count to.

"Thinus has put it in sort of a negative connotation. I actually think it's incredibly positive," said Gavin Wratten, Idols co-executive producer from [SIC] Entertainment. 

"You think of what we've all went through this year with Covid-19, the fact that we hit 180 million votes is unbelievable. You can compare it to any other TV show in South Africa, I mean we are miles ahead."

"I think it's amazing that we got that many votes if you consider that many people during lockdown probably lost jobs, they didn't have as much data, they didn't have as much access to data, they didn't maybe see us and had access to TV shows."

"The fact that we got that number is absolutely phenomenal, I didn't think we were going to get anywhere near, so a big up to everybody in Mzansi who watched and voted because it was phenomenal," said Gavin Wratten.

Nomsa Philiso, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, speaking about allegations of vote-rigging in previous Idols seasons, said that "As MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic we are absolutely comfortable with the process. I really would like people to understand that the integrity of these votes are unquestionable."

"Actually, it is South Africa that has spoken. We were not involved. South Africa has voted and we just tally the votes."

Talking about Idols and it being renewed for a 17th season, she said that "The majority of South Africans relate to it and I think that what has worked for it is that we've been very responsible towards what it is that the people want".

"In terms of being up there [amidst] how Covid-19 has affected us, is testament to how agile the production team and the Mzansi Magic team has been to put Idols on." 

ALSO READ: Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni clinches the season 16 Idols winner title on Mzansi Magic, overall vote tally of 180 million slighty down during Covid-19 year.