by Thinus Ferreira
The SABC says Skeem Saam isn't cancelled although production on the series that hasn't been renewed yet will soon shut down. New already-filmed episodes of the current season will however continue to broadcast on SABC1 until at least June.
The South African public broadcaster told TVwithThinus on Friday that it is refuting rumours on social media that the longrunning series has been canned.
However, a gap between shutting down production and with no renewal in place, has the dangerous potential that cast and crew members could jump ship to other productions as they seek new work, which could make them unavailable to return if or when filming resumes.
Skeem Saam on SABC1 is the latest longrunning, big-budget and locally-produced SABC now getting a possible question mark behind its future after the financially struggling public broadcaster, that is also going through a retrenchment process, recently forced Danie Odendaal Productions responsible for SABC2's 7de Laan, as well as Word of Mouth Productions responsible for SABC2's Muvhango, into production cuts.
SABC2 reduced both longrunning hit series from 5 to just 3 episodes per week on the schedule, meaning production budget adjustments on both series and with their casts and crews who will be getting less work and therefore earning less money.
With Skeem Saam that has just a month of production left before shutting down and with no renewal in place, the danger is that current crew and cast members might not all be back and could jump ship to other productions in the period where it's not filming and before the SABC recommissions the youth drama series.
Like Muvhango that is SABC2's most-watched series with 9.55 million viewers in December and 7de Laan as the 6th most-watched series on SABC2 in December with 2.72 million viewers, Skeem Saam has been a perennial ratings heavy-hitter on SABC1.
In December Skeem Saam lured a strong 4.4 million viewers (11.72 ARs) as the third most-watched show for the month on SABC1, also making it the fourth most-watched show on all of South African television after Uzalo (SABC1), Generations (SABC1) and Scandal (e.tv).
Although production on Skeem Saam will be shutting down with no word on when it might resume, Skeem Saam will remain on-air, uninterrupted on SABC1, until June.
"The SABC refutes allegations that Skeem Saam is cancelled," says Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson. "Skeem Saam remains a successful pillar of SABC1's schedule and is the 3rd-most watched programme in South Africa."
"The SABC has duly fulfilled its contractual obligations in relation to the production of Skeem Saam for the current season which is scheduled until June 2021".
