by Thinus Ferreira
With its channel head gone, the South
African public broadcaster's struggling SABC3 is once again undergoing yet
another content strategy review with the fate of its local soap The Estate up
in the air after it hasn't been renewed for a further season.
Although the SABC isn't saying that The Estate – produced by Clive Morris Productions – has been cancelled, the broadcaster has not ordered a fourth season with filming that will wrap at the end of this month on the low-rated show that plugged the gap which was left after Isidingo was cancelled.
The Estate struggled in the ratings since its debut with 418 028 viewers at most during April 2023.
After the cancellation of Isidingo in March 2020, viewers left to other channels as SABC3 replaced the timeslot with filler content while it took SABC3 over a year to get The Estate commissioned and on air from April 2021.
The SABC has told Clive Morris Productions that it won't be ordering any further episodes. It means the third season finale broadcast at the end of July will likely serve as a series finale, unless SABC3 perhaps commissions a fourth season at some point in the future.
Irrespective of whether there is a fourth season, The Estate's existing audience will evaporate from July since a fourth season won't follow seamlessly after the third with the show which will have to start from scratch to lure an audience if it were to return.
The SABC says further production of The Estate beyond the already ordered episodes have been "put on hold". After multiple turnaround strategies for the channel, the SABC says SABC3 is once again under a content strategy review.
"Key market changes such as the impact of the analogue switch and load shedding has forced a review on the channel’s strategy. In addition, The Estate will be put on hold whilst reviewing its offering. This exercise is aimed at enabling the S3 to better compete within the environment," the SABC says in a statement.
SABC3 is currently without a channel head after Pat van Heerden left at the end of April.
She shepherded the development of The Estate and was instrumental in finally getting it on the air.
She however struggled in the recommissioning process for further
seasons due to internal politics within the SABC, which led to breaks
between the first and second and second and third seasons of the show.
In late 2021 the cast and crew of The Estate went unpaid for months with the SABC that said in January 2022 that it was concerned about the non-payment of the cast and crew since the broadcaster had made its payment to the production company.
"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."
In late 2021 the cast and crew of The Estate went unpaid for months with the SABC that said in January 2022 that it was concerned about the non-payment of the cast and crew since the broadcaster had made its payment to the production company.
"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."
