by Thinus Ferreira
SABC3 channel head Pat van Heerden will exit the South African public broadcaster at the end of the month TVwithThinus can reveal.
The experienced TV executive accepted the gargantuan task to try and rightsize the seemingly terminal SABC3 with major programming, scheduling and on-air rebranding interventions as part of a turnaround strategy to try and lift ratings over the past five years since her appointment at the start of 2020.
With master degrees from New York University, this was Pat van Heerden's second stint a the SABC where she previously also served as head of entertainment and head of documentaries and factual entertainment for SABC1, and also helping out Media24's Afrikaans lifestyle channel VIA on MultiChoice's DStv, as head of content and scheduling.
There are now growing fears that the progress made on turning around SABC3 could all be undone as the highly respected channel boss exits the channel at the end of the month without any real permanent successor appointed to replace her.
The SABC plans to once again run SABC3 with an acting channel head for the time being - one of the major problems that contributed to the channel's ratings failure over the past decade and a half that Pat van Heerden rebranded as "S3" in April 2021 - now courting and luring back progressive millennial viewers who have grown up in a digital, streaming world to traditional TV broadcasting.
Pat van Heerden succeeded in making massive inroads to stem SABC3's ratings slide especially on weekends with natural history programming that's successful in luring back viewers. She also plugged the early prime time schedule chasm left after the cancellation of Isidingo with The Estate.
Now insiders are saying that the exit of Pat van Heerden reeks of "ageism" and that the move looks as if she's being pushed out for apparently being too old, although she's a highly experienced TV content executive who has managed to prevent SABC3 from total collapse after years of mismanagement.
Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, in response to a media query, confirmed to TVwithThinus that SABC3 will once again be without a channel head from the end of the month and that Pat van Heerden is exiting.
"The SABC can confirm that Pat van Heerden will leave the corporation at the end of the month. Like any other organisation, the SABC has measures in place including succession plans to address matters such as this one".
The SABC says "It must be noted that the success of S3 is as a result of a great teamwork and the people who were instrumental in drafting the roadmap of S3's strategy will continue to ensure that the channel continues to grow."
"The SABC would like to wish Pat well and her contribution as a very passionate and experienced broadcaster has added value to the SABC and contributed towards the reduction of audience losses on the channel through her great editorial strength."
The SABC declined to comment on questions as to why Pat van Heerden's contract wasn't extended if she is regarded as successful and who will be taking over as acting channel head.
