SABC3 abruptly halts further production of low-rated The Estate as part of 'forced review' of channel's content strategy, Clive Morris Productions show very likely cancelled.

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC has abruptly halted further production of SABC3's early prime-time soap The Estate beyond the third season, with the local show which has struggled in the ratings and which is likely cancelled after the South African public broadcaster has been "forced" to review SABC3's content strategy.

According to the SABC, production of The Estate has been "put on hold" although insiders say it's unlikely that the Clive Morris Productions show will be back. 

Production stopped and started between the first and second, and second and third seasons and now The Estate will take another indeterminate break after its third season.

The SABC in a statement says The Estate's third season "regrettably comes to a wrap" and will "take a hiatus at the end of its third season at the end of July 2023". 

SABC3 channel head Pat van Heerden is gone since the end of April 2023. She shepherded the development of The Estate and was instrumental in finally getting it on the air to plug the hole left by the cancellation of the long-running Isidingo when the SABC had no plan or replacement.

Pat van Heerden struggled in the recommissioning process of The Estate due to internal politics within the SABC, which cause long breaks between the first and second, and second and third seasons of the show for what was supposed to be a seamless series. 

With every break which caused a disruption in viewer behaviour, viewers went away and had to be coaxed back into the pattern of watching the show, causing additional damage to The Estate's ratings.

In late 2021 the cast and crew of The Estate went unpaid for months with the SABC that said in January 2023 that it was concerned about the non-payment of the cast and crew since the broadcaster had made its payment to the production company.

In halting further episode orders of The Estate, the SABC now says that "Key market changes such as the impact of the analogue switch-off and load-shedding has forced a review on the channel's strategy".

The Estate will produce the last of its third season episodes during May and June.

"S3 extends its gratitude to the producer, cast and crew of The Estate for a world-class and award-winning production and thanks the viewers for their support," the SABC says in a statement.

Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Clive Morris Productions chief operating officer (COO) in a statement says "It has been an immense privilege to work with the SABC in producing The Estate over the last three seasons".

"We are extremely grateful to our national broadcaster for the bravery and courage they have demonstrated in affording us the opportunity to tell authentic, hard-hitting, and groundbreaking stories, which reflect the South Africa we live in today."

"Thank you to our incredible crew and cast for their unparalleled talent and commitment and most of all thank you to you the viewers who have walked the journey with us over the last two years. We look forward to sharing the next chapter of The Estate with the nation after our production hiatus."

The Estate has struggled in the ratings since its debut with 418 028 viewers at most during April 2023.

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