by Thinus Ferreira
Like it did with Generations the SABC is giving Muvhango on SABC2 a reset after signing a new contract - with new faces including Leleti Khumalo as well as a younger cast, a new logo and intro theme and new storylines - saying it was forced to continue because of viewer reaction after news that the Venda soap was cancelled.
The long-running show that stopped filming new episodes on 15 June, is restarting amidst ratings and money woes for the SABC which realised that it had nothing else in development - and no money - to effectively serve as a placeholder for Muvhango.
After Muvhango's contract with Word of Mouth Pictures ended and filming stopped on 15 June, filming has now restarted for a 26th season, done cheaper, with new episodes that will again be broadcast from 5 August on SABC2.
"We had challenges. But we are here now and we are unveiling a new season," says Lala Tuku, acting group executive of SABC video entertainment, speaking at a hastily arranged media event in Fourways on Thursday night.
"We have no doubt that Muvhango will reach its targets for the slot, wink, wink. We've worked intensely with the team to bring you invigorated stories," she said.
She alluded that financial issues - the SABC is technically insolvent - and ratings - Muvhango has lost millions of viewers over the past decade - are the crux that caused "a tussle" in negotiations around signing Word of Mouth Pictures to bring Muvhango back for another season.
"The reality is that the SABC derives its revenue from advertising. We require audiences to choose to watch our content. The reality is we have brilliant content on our platform and we need our audiences to select it and come in."
Speaking about the decision to bring Muvhango back and to give it another contract after it was effectively cancelled, Tuku said "At the end of the day it was a tussle in the negotiating room around keeping a legacy property which we all believed in, including the SABC board".
"At the end of the day, it is the rands and the cents. The authenticity of the show, the boldness of the storytelling - we just could not do away with it."
Duma Ndlovu, Muvhango creator and executive producer, said "Muvhango has a new logo, we have a new title sequence, we've listened to the young people. We've come back with what we think is a stunning show."
"We decided to bring back some characters who were with Muvhango before and remake them."
Jacqui Hlongwane, acting SABC2 channel head, said "We respond to what viewers say" and noted that viewer response to Muvhango no longer being on the air pushed the SABC to decide to bring it back. "We are really changing things up in this new season."
Veteran actress Leleti Khumalo joins as a new character, playing Dr Nonhlanhla Ximba whose "enigmatic presence as a construction mogul set to disrupt the familiar landscape".
Lebo Tisane and Wiseman Zitha are two former Muvhango actors who are rejoining the production. Other actors who have made appearances on Muvhango in the past, will return playing new characters.
While it lost several millions of viewers over the past years, Muvhango remained the most-watched show on SABC and the channel's only programme with more than a million viewers nightly.
In June it drew 1.16 million viewers with the SABC that is adamant that the reset Muvhango should increase both its ratings and audience share.
The hard reset of Muvhango, whilst keeping "the original DNA" of the show, is similar to what the SABC did in late 2014 when Generations creator Mfundi Vundla got rid of the main cast and did a reset of the show as Generations - The Legacy with a new cast, some older faces who returned, a new intro and logo and cheaper cast contracts.
The SABC told the media interviews would be done with the broadcaster's executives, the show's producers and selected cast members on Thursday night but publicist Caroline Phalakatshela failed to keep to the arrangements.
Thanduxolo Jindela of Kwathole Conexion, Muvhango's PR firm who is paid to communicate with media about the show, didn't respond to any of multiple calls and messages about the show.
