by Thinus Ferreira
e.tv has pulled the plug on its early prime time series Durban Gen which will end in January 2023 after just over two years.
Durban Gen, filmed in Durban, launched on e.tv in October 2020 at the same time as SABC2's hospital drama series Vutha, and is set in the Durban township of Newlands East and the corridors of the Durban General academic public hospital.
Produced by Stained Glass TV also responsible for SABC1's Uzalo and The Wife on MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax, has been e.tv's fourth most-watched series and lured 2.75 million viewers (7.12 AR / 27.5 share) during April to its early prime time 18:30-timeslot.
e.tv that issued a death certificate to Durban Gen comes as M-Net channels like kykNET (DStv 144) recently cancelled its Afrikaans weekday soap Getroud met Rugby in the 18:00 timeslot and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) cancelled The Queen.
eMedia says in a statement "e.tv can confirm that the hospital drama Durban Gen will be coming to an end in January 2023".
"The decision to decommission the daily drama is part of a business strategy which includes the on-going review of the on-air life-cycle of all our shows."
"e.tv continues to look forward to fulfilling its mandate of producing exceptional and relevant local content, and the production has successfully achieved its part of the obligation throughout the past 2 years."
