Anaconda on e.tv captures another 2.4 million viewers in its latest rebroadcast in 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

Viewers complained vehemently. Then over 2.4 million tuned in and kept watching when e.tv broadcast Anaconda on 15 January after the red letter channel promised that it would never do so again, ensuring that the horror-schlock film will definitely rate very high on the viewership list of January's most-watched content in South Africa.

e.tv made headlines and angered viewers when the eMedia channel announced that it would again show the 1997-film on 15 January, after it promised 8 years ago that it would never again be showing Anaconda again when it did a "final premiere" of the horror film in June 2014.

At the start of 2022 e.tv had shown Anaconda at least 19 times over the past number of years, not counting the multiple broadcasts of the film on other eMedia TV channels like eMovies, or any of the multiple same-week repeats after an initial reschedule airing, or rebroadcasts.

Similarly, the franchise's sequels like Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid never left e.tv and remain in constant high-rotation scheduling, shown annually and multiple times in 2021 on e.tv. 

e.tv didn't respond to a media query about Anaconda's return to the channel's schedule before broadcast.

After the film's broadcast on Saturday night at 20:00, Anaconda starring Ice Cube, Jon Voight and J.Lo, managed to lure over 2.4 million viewers who not only tuned to e.tv but kept watching.  

This week, in an unsolicited statement following its broadcast, e.tv said "The movie is an old favourite, and even though you know that snake is about to strike, you can't stop watching".

Marlon Davids, managing director of the channels, says "Anaconda is an old-time favourite and we know our audiences are hooked on suspense. We will continue to bring the drama, suspense and thrills to viewers".

ALSO READ: Anaconda is again free on e as South African viewers fume over e.tv's obsession with the poison-pic(k).

Anaconda is again free on e as South African viewers fume over e.tv's obsession with the poison-pic(k).

by Thinus Ferreira

After having shown it dozens of times and promising never to do so ever again, Jennifer Lopez will once again do the mambo with a big mamba on Saturday night - "only free on e" - when e.tv will once again broadcast the 1997-film Anaconda at 20:00.

The schlock-horror film starring Ice Cube, Jon Voight and J.Lo has been the TV gift that kept on giving to e.tv for years, with every broadcast that drew millions of viewers to the channel every single time e.tv schedules it.

On Thursday, e.tv suddenly announced on social media, by only displaying a film still of Anaconda, that it would once again be the Saturday night movie.

The respawning of Anaconda comes 8 years after e.tv promised that it would never be showing Anaconda again when the channel did a "final premiere" of the horror film in June 2014.

Eight years ago e.tv teased in a TV promo to hype Anaconda's "final" broadcast: "You've seen it once. You've seen it twice. You've seen it eighteen times. It's the movie that just won't die."

In reality, Anaconda has been shown much more than 19 times, with multiple same-week repeats across different timeslots after each airing; as well as rebroadcasts on e.tv's digital sister channels like eMovies. 

Similarly, the franchise's sequels like Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid never left e.tv; shown annually and multiple times in 2021.

Later on Thursday, e.tv mercilessly started trolling people on social media after South Africans - including various politicians and celebrities - started to complain very vocally about Anaconda and accusing e.tv of constantly rebroadcasting old content. 

e.tv didn't respond to a media made Thursday about Anaconda's return to the channel's schedule.

South Africa TV viewers fed-up over repeats, attack e.tv after the broadcaster brazenly brags that it has shown Anaconda 19 times.

Watch, rinse, repeat: Fed-up and fatigued viewers, tired of an avalanche of movie repeats on television, are attacking e.tv after the South African broadcaster brazenly bragged that it has showed the movie Anaconda 19 times.

On Sunday night e.tv showed the 1997 schlock movie for the 19th time, but told viewers it would be "the last premiere of Anaconda" - for now.

It was also a lie. Just after midnight on Sunday, at 00:40 on Monday morning, e.tv showed Anaconda yet again.

Before the "end of an era" as e.tv billed Sunday night's "final" showing, the broadcaster said that it "has played the classic horror film a whopping 18 times and despite outrage and conflicting opinions over three million viewers tune in for the epic showing every time".

A few years ago it was films like Fanny by Gaslight which perpetually littered the e.tv schedule and which the broadcaster kept showing over and over and over again.

e.tv created the hashtag #GoodbyeAnaconda on Twitter and that's when the viewer backlash against the broadcaster over excessive repeats and repetition of the movie started.

"While we wish the snake goodbye, please don't bring back Emmanuel and Walker Texas Ranger," wrote Refilwe Bogatsu.

A Renaldo wrote: "Now finally the snake can go into it's retirement after years in loyal service for the channel".

"Thank you e.tv. Can you do that with other movies. Please!" begged S'bu Mbambo.

"17 times too many! Let's make way for new stuff!" said Viv.

"Just because the original Anaconda is being exiled, doesn't mean the sequels should stay either. Take em all," wrote Nkunzi Malanga.

"On a serious note though. Is this some kind of sick joke? Does someone get paid to select the 8pm movie and how much?" asked Golden Lady Bird.