The South African public broadcaster is looking to produce a long-running youth drama series for SABC1 like Skeem Saam with a focus on female, gay characters and disabled characters, a family drama for SABC2 centred around hope, and a telenovela for SABC3 that will likely be the replacement for The Estate.
After a cash crunch that saw it abandoning its comprehensive so-called annual "requests for proposals" RFP-book over half a decade ago and which laid out its content plans which South African producers could pitch to produce, the SABC on Friday told the local TV biz that it's looking for three specific pitches.
The SABC's content commissioning intention for new local long-running shows comes as a welcome reprieve for the batter local production industry, damaged by years of Covid and when the broadcaster started to turn off the commissioning tap.
To stay afloat South Africa production companies have largely shifted away from the SABC to fulfil content commissions from eMedia for e.tv and its eVOD streamer, Netflix, MultiChoice's DStv and its streamer Showmax, as well as the M-Net, kykNET and Mzansi Magic channels that ramped up its local production output over the last few years.
The SABC is now awaiting proposals - one each for new drama series on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 - which would be able to survive in the competitive viewership environment as long-running series. Producers have a submit proposals until 28 July.
The SABC's last big ratings hit was the Durban-set Uzalo on SABC1 which launched in 2015 and which is still ongoing, with the broadcaster - due to its ongoing financial struggles - that has been unable to put any long-running series on the SABC airwaves over the past eight years.
The content division of the SABC's video entertainment division is now looking for show proposals for series which it plans to launch during prime-time across its three linear TV channels, which should all be "compelling and culturally authentic content with editorial uniqueness that resonates with our viewers".
The SABC is also more and more open to so-called co-funding productions, where the broadcaster doesn't carry the production costs alone, in exchange for relinquishing some of the licensing rights.
SABC1: LGBTQ+, female and disabled
While the ageing trifecta TV of Uzalo, Generations - The Legacy and Skeem Saam continue to dominate in South Africa's TV ratings race as the most-watched shows on SABC1 and in the country, the SABC is looking to develop and produce another youth-centred show, like Skeem Saam for prime time.
"The themes
and issues should be rooted, resonant and authentic to the realities confronted
by the young in this rapidly changing world," says the SABC in its proposals brief for the SABC1 drama series.
"The concept should capture the
spirit of our times, with a premise that is relevant and resonates with youth
culture, music, fashion, retro being cool, side hustles, disruption of the
norm."
"Characters should be original, multi-layered, and complex on a journey of
self-discovery and truth. They should be agents of change, committed to forging
a future that allows them to realize the fullness of who they are or aspire to
be. Key focus areas include but not limited to the LBGTQ+ community, strong
female-skewed stories and people with disabilities."
SABC2: Hopeful
For SABC2 the public broadcaster is looking for a drama series centred around the theme of "the power of hope".
The long-form open brief is for a family-orientated series where the power of hope "is an inherent part of being a human being.
It defines what we want for our futures.."
"Hope links your past and present
to the future. Hope is a motivator to take the next step forward to make things
happen. Hope requires a clear vision; it keeps the dream alive. To have hope is
to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way. Hope grows!"
"SABC2 is looking for concepts and ideas that broaden and celebrate the South African
family in the context of home, society, and workplace. It remains
committed to representing South Africa as part of the African continent and
projecting the rich diversity of the continent."
"The channel delivers to
diverse cultural and age demographics. Its content is aimed at education
informal knowledge building and entertainment through a diverse representation
of genre."
SABC3: High-concept, complex characters
With the channel's local telenovela The Estate, produced by Clive Morris Productions, wrapping filming next month on its third season and going off the air at the end of July, the SABC is looking for a new telenovela of which the proposal brief reads very much like what the channel had on air previously with Isidingo and The Estate.
The SABC is looking for a "high-concept drama" in its open brief for a new telenovela and notes that SABC3 wants a "drama series that explores the impact of this seismic shift in society on the
individual, the family, community, and institutions at large".
"We are looking
for original, highly authored and story-driven complex characters, set in a
world that reflects the complex realities and contradictions of the lives of
urban South Africans, where high-end brands get them a seat at the table,
travel is part of self-care, and code-switching is a critical tool in building
social capital."
"We are looking for a high-end/high concept drama that speaks
to the SS3 DNA with themes that focus on class distinction, social mobility,
career success, policy advancement and that explores the interpersonal dynamics
that define this world."
"Key focus areas include, but are not limited to the
nature and environment, economic reform, gender equity, mental health and
culture and identity."
Producers will have to have three years of experience in doing long-form drama with at least one complete long-form drama already produced and broadcast, will have to submit episode summaries for at least 13 episodes along with their proposals, as well as a funding plan for hybrid-funding models.
The SABC says it will only consider proposals which are submitted through its SABC website portal for content submissions at www.sabc.co.za/sabc/content-submission-2/ and that the closing date is midnight on 28 July.
Besides the new drama series for the three channels, the SABC is still working through 998 other proposals the broadcaster received since August 2022, with 601 already evaluated and 397 left.
"The teams are working tirelessly and diligently to finalise the
process and provide feedback to all producers as soon as possible," says the SABC".
"The video entertainment team has already begun the pitching and look forward to
engaging with more producers as the process unfolds."
