The SABC finally responds (without answering questions) about SABC1's latest wrong Generations content and the channel's ongoing problem to get its primetime playout right: 'Thanks for tuning in?'

by Thinus Ferreira

After more ongoing problems and mistakes with the playout of Generations on SABC1 last week, the South African public broadcaster took days to respond and belatedly just saying "the situation has been rectified".

SABC1 has ongoing problems and errors with broadcast episodes correctly, and in the correct order during primetime of its Skeem Saam and Generations soaps and last week once again messed up Generations for viewers, so much so that viewers - who didn't get any answers - couldn't make sense of what was going on.

SABC1's latest Generations mess where Phumzile Zonke is SABC1 channel head, is indicative of an ongoing issue that SABC1 and Phumzile Zonke either won't or can't fix. 

Just before the latest mistakes of Generations last week, SABC1 bungled the playout of Skeem Saam earlier in July.

TVwithThinus asked the SABC in an urgent media enquiry last week on Friday morning for an explanation as to why wrong Generations content was shown last week.

SABC1 was also asked for why it keeps happening, in light of what happened with the errors with Skeem Saam earlier this month again, and before that with both Skeem Saam and Generations again.

The SABC didn't respond with any answer.

The SABC was also asked why SABC1 is unable to fix the recurring problem and why the public broadcaster's TV channel isn't able to introduce effective measures to prevent the same problem or issue from recurring. 

Again the SABC didn't bother with any answer.

The SABC was also asked how the playout of Generations will work going forward from Friday in terms of episodes. The SABC also didn't bother to answer this question.

On Tuesday, TVwithThinus asked SABC1 again about the Generations mess.

Dichaba Phalatse, SABC video entertainment marketing manager in an emailed statement addressing none of the questions posed, said: "There was an error on our side resulting in the wrong episode being played , however the situation has been rectified and the correct episodes are now playing. Thank you for tuning in?"

ALSO READ: SABC1 viewers angry after the channel once again shows the wrong Skeem Saam episode on Monday in ongoing broadcast problem.

ALSO READ: Skeem Saam viewers confused after SABC1 once again broadcast a repeat episode during prime time without any explanation.

BREAKING. Anyone can watch Selimathunzi on SABC1 - you're just not actually good enough to be one of their on-air presenters.

Although its a nationally seen TV show on a national TV channel on a public broadcaster no less, SABC1 and its entertainment magazine show Selimathunzi is shamelessly discriminating by demanding that a new presenter only be from KwaZulu-Natal.

Entries for the Selimathunzi presenter search closes today. Interested people from the poor province where internet broadband access is not readily available and expensive, has to enter online.

SABC1 and Selimathunzi and their discriminatory "activation" for the brands are looking for a black presenter to do the black carpet at the 2014 13th Metro FM Music Awards. The SABC and Selimathunzi calls it a "regional talent search". The only problem is that it only involves one region.

"The search is the first of its kind and will translate into compelling reality entertainment," says Dichaba Phalatse, SABC1's portfolio marketing manager for entertainment.

The Selimathunzi presenter search is "meant for KwaZulu-Natal residents only".

Although they're not good enough to actually enter or possibly be a black carpet presenter, SABC1 and Selimathunzi would presumably like viewers from all other provinces to watch the show and the channel and come across as being "inclusive" - which it isn't.

When a Top Billing, or MTV Base hold a presenter search, it's not discriminatory regarding region and not restrictive like Selimathunzi, looking to find the best possible presenter irrespective of where they might be or live to give their show and channel the best on-air talent they can find.

I asked SABC1 why a public TV channel on the South African public broadcaster feels that is can blatantly dsicriminate by selectively choosing to only accept entries for a competition from just one province.

"SABC1 hosts many nationwide presenter searches and the channel has launches many young careers and remains committed to doing so in the future," SABC1 tells TV with Thinus.

"The Black Carpet Presenter Search forms part of the MetroFM Music Awards within the KwaZulu-Natal umbrella. We are giving KwaZulu-Natal residents an opportunity," says SABC1.

Pearl Thusi dumps RGB on SABC1 as stand-along presenter; Amanda Du Pont to take over, possibly with Sinazo Yolwa as well.

With so much drama behind the scenes it's been an open secret within the local TV biz for a long time, but Pearl Thusi has finally dumped RGB on SABC1 with Amanda Du Pont who will be taking over as the stand-along presenter next to Phat Joe Kambule.

RGB is also set for other overhauls very soon of the weekly Saturday lifestyle and entertainment magazine show which pulls a weekly TV audience of 5,6 million viewers on SABC1.

Although SABC1 strangely announced that Sinazo Yolwa will also be joining RGB as a co-presenter, Sinazo Yolwa has not signed any contract with the show yet and who is still involved with the current season of So You Think You Can Dance SA on SABC1.

Pearl Thusi decided to dump RGB just over a year and a half after she joined, saying she has too many things going on and that RGB, compared to all the other things, takes a lesser priority.

"Everyone at the show has been amazingly supportive with my decision to move on," says Pearl Thusi. "I had to make a tough decision on what to focus on."

"We and our viewers are going to miss her," says Dichaba Phalatse, SABC1's portfolio marketing manager for entertainment, saying SABC1 will continue to work with Pearl Thusi on "other projects".

While SABC1 announced that Pearl Thusi will be replaced by Amanda Du Pont and Sinazo Yolwa as co-presenters, Sinazo Yolwa has not signed any contract.

Pearl Thusi will make her final appearance on RGB on Saturday 9 November; Amanda Du Pont will start from Saturday 16 November - possibly with Sinazo Yolwa.