TV RATINGS October 2022: e.tv's Scandal! keeps gunning for SABC1's Generations; WINNERS: SABC2's Morning Live, Moja Love's X-Repo, e.tv with Vin Diesel LOSERS: Mzansi Magic's Idols, SABC3's The Estate, SABC2's Muvhango.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's prime-time ratings race has become a fierce two-horse competition between SABC1 and e.tv, with viewers kicking off their nightly viewing starting with e.tv's House of Zwide on e.tv at 19:00 followed by Scandal! at 19:30, then flipping the channel to SABC1's Generations at 20:00 and Uzalo at 20:30.

With prime-time ratings that steadily keep climbing, eMedia's e.tv free-to-air TV channel now has the second and fourth most-watched TV shows on South African television, with Scandal! in second place and 5 114  755 viewers in October - just 770 805 viewers away from Uzalo's 5 885 560 viewers in October as SABC1 and the country's most-watched TV programme.

Generations on SABC1 comes in third place with 4 643 191 viewers in October, but with just over 300 000 viewers difference, e.tv in fourth position with House of Zwide and its audience of 4 312 744, is now clearly gunning and trying to overtake Generations.

The TV share - the percentage of total TV sets switched on at any given moment and tuned to a specific TV channel - tells a remarkable story of how South African viewers are channel-flipping between SABC1 and e.tv to curate their own linear broadcast nightly viewing experience.

Between 19:00 and 20:00 more than 40% of all TV sets are switched to e.tv in South Africa, surging to 45% for Scandal!. Viewers then switch to SABC1 at 20:00 for the next hour to watch Generations and Uzalo, with the TV share of 43% climbing to 57% by 21:00.

Nothing else on South African television comes close to these four TV shows from SABC1 and e.tv in terms of ratings and audience share.

Zulu and Xhosa TV news shine

Skeem Saam on SABC1 lost viewers in October, luring 3.94 million, down from September's 4.17 million. While still commanding massive audiences, the Zulu TV news (down from 2.45 to 2.3 million) and the Xhosa TV news (down from 2.73 to 2.19 million) remain the two most watched TV news bulletins on South African television.

Illustrating the massive ongoing viewership decline problem that SABC2 has is that the Muvhango repeat at 08:30 in the mornings on SABC1 lures more viewers than original first-run episodes during prime time on SABC2. 

Muvhango on SABC1 grabbed 1.99 million viewers in the morning, compared to a depressing 1.579 million at 21:30 on SABC2 during prime time in October as SABC2's most-watched, but fading show.

Fooled by Love dropped from 1.879 to 1.621 million viewers in October, while The Executives fell from 1.621 to 1.588 million viewers.

Morning Live punching above its weight

The haemorrhage of SABC2's ratings continues with only Muvhango managing more than a million viewers and 10 out of the channel's top 20 shows now unable to draw more than half a million viewers.

The Afrikaans TV soap 7de Laan remained the second-most watched show on the channel during October, improving slightly from 859 016 to 908 895 viewers. Kgatelopele improved slightly from 725 658 to 771 078 viewers. The Afrikaans TV news bulletin was down from 631 325 viewers to 611 606 in October.

Morning Live remains a shining star for SABC2 - punching far above its weight in its early morning timeslot and further increasing its viewership by 94 683 in October from an already phenomenal 475 519 viewers in September to 570 202 viewers (16.5 share) in October. 

The Setswana TV news bulletin improved from 521 677 to 532 032 viewers in October while president Cyril Ramaphosa's live presidential address on 23 October had 449 769 viewers tuning in. Close to the same number - 443  929 watched an umpteenth repeat of Murder She Wrote in its 14:00-timeslot in the afternoons.

SABC3's The Estate more watched on repeat

The Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton on 8 October was the top-scorer on SABC3 with 608 491 viewers, followed by Tropika Island of Treasure with 547 990 viewers and Katlego Maboe suddenly substituted as host.

The film Rise of the Planet of the Apes was third with 546 037 viewers, followed by the English TV news bulletin at 18:00 with 509 394 viewers. 

Viewers don't watch the ratings-challenged The Estate from Clive Morris Productions in prime time on SABC3, rather watching the 11:00 repeat in the mornings with 457 703 viewers and the Saturday omnibus that lured 445 046 viewers.

The American talk show The View had 296 121 viewers, drama series Tropical Heat had 288 162, and news show On Point lured 286 416 viewers.

Vin Diesel xxxx-cellent for e.tv

On e.tv Imbewu dropped from 2.67 to 2.25 million viewers, the cancelled Durban Gen remained even from 2.56 to 2.59 million viewers, while The Black Door shed over half a million viewers, plunging from 2.5 to 1.99 million viewers.

The e.tv news at 20:00 lost audience from 1.9 to 1.6 million viewers in October.

South African viewers are "weird" when it comes to watching e.tv movies - they will watch them again and again. 

On Saturday 15 October XXX: The Return of Xander Cage drew a strong 1.64 million viewers to the 20:00-timeslot. 

You think that's it - until e.tv also slotted a repeat for the next day, with Vin Diesel again drawing another jaw-dropping 1.3 million further viewers at 14:30 with little audience drop-off. It means the film lured close to 3 million viewers for e.tv with two combined airings.

Moja Love's X-Repo surges 

On DStv in October Mzansi Magic's (DStv 166) Gomora remained atop the ratings pecking order although MultiChoice again had a month dipping below a  million DStv subscribers, going from 1 014 085 viewers in September to 997 735 in October.

Moja Love's (DStv 157) Sunday night tabloid series Uyajola 9/9 gathered viewers, growing from 876 201 to 924 859 viewers in October. 

The Queen remained flat from 661 478 to 659 211 viewers, while Idols improved somewhat for its Top 7 contestants show from 542 049 to a still-low 686 199 DStv subscribers watching on 2 October.

The River on Mzansi Magic went from 608 277 to 564 451 viewers in October, while X-Repo on Moja Love surged from 492 333 to 647 213 viewers, becoming the 6th most-watched show on DStv in the month. 

The Real Housewives of Cape Town on Mzansi Magic picked up some viewers, improving from 396 719 to 531 981 in October.

South African television ratings in 2021: The winners and losers.

by Thinus Ferreira

We again saw a lot this year, and in 2021 a lot of that was on television, with millions of South Africans watching the same thing, at the same time, where linear TV broadcasting still triumphs over streaming services that are growing but from a very small base.

Given the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, as well as the public unrest and looting that took place in the country, 2021's biggest TV ratings winner was undoubtedly television news.

The TV swansong of veteran anchor Noxolo Grootboom on the night of 30 March drew a huge audience of 3.82 million to SABC1 for her final SABC News isiXhosa TV news bulletin at 19:00 on South African television.

The 3 823 686 viewers who tuned in represented a 33 share, meaning that 1 out of every 3 TV sets that were switched on during the timeslot, were tuned to watch her.

Although not entertainment content, every single televised presidential address and "family meeting" of president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021 - from Covid lockdown announcements to speaking about the public looting and unrest in South Africa and his State of the Nation address - drew millions of viewers combined for each broadcast, as viewers watched him speak live on SABC, e.tv and the three TV news channels of eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News (DStv 404), and Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405).

Such was the huge and successful ratings that if Cyril Ramaphosa's speeches were a TV show it would definitely have been renewed for another season in 2022. 

In just July for instance, president Cyril Ramaphosa's televised address to the nation to announce that South Africa is moving to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown on 25 July propelled his speech to the most-watched "show" on SABC2 for the month.

It was also the 4th most-watched on all of South African television with 5.84 million viewers (15.09 AR / 44.8 share) who tuned in.

Just a few weeks earlier, millions of viewers were once again glued to SABC2 when Cyril Ramaphosa spoke on 12 July to address the public violence with 3.7 million viewers (9.57 AR / 28.4 share), and again when he made a speech on 16 July about the looting that drew 4.17 million viewers (10.78 AR / 32.4 share).

Add another 1.7 million viewers who watched president Cyril Ramaphosa and his speech on 12 July on e.tv, and another 3.19 million who watched his speech on e.tv on 11 July.

Public unrest lifts news ratings

Anxiety and fear around Covid and public unrest in South Africa lifted TV news ratings on South African television to new records - millions of viewers tuned to television to find out what was going on.

Combined, the Zulu TV news bulletin on SABC1 in 2021 remained the single most-watched piece of TV news content on all of South African television this year and kept surging in the ratings race as it added millions of viewers.

The Zulu TV news on SABC1 climbed to an astounding 4.6 million viewers (12.11 AR / 36.4 share) viewers in July as the 5th most-watched programme on South African television for the month with the 12 July broadcast recording the most viewers.

This was followed by the Xhosa TV news bulletin on SABC1 on 13 July with 4.49 million viewers (11.62 AR / 35.2 share) as the 6th most-watched programme on TV for the month. 

In this month, the Setswana TV news bulletin on SABC2 surged on 12 July to an absolutely incredible 2.6 million viewers (6.95 AR / 19.9 share) - up from 768 544 viewers in June.

The memorial service of the amaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini in March snagged 712 222 viewers on SABC2 in March.

And good morning to all of those early risers: Despite so many challenges behind-the-scenes at the SABC, Morning Live on SABC2 in 2021 continued to pull more viewers early in the morning - in excess of 700 000 - than a lot of other TV shows get during prime time.

Newzroom excels

The unrest of 2021 lifted the 2-year old TV news channel Newzroom Afrika to higher prominence as one of the notable TV ratings winners of the year.

Newzroom Afrika dethroned eNCA for the first time this year as the most-watched TV news channel during a national crisis event during July's unrest and looting, as it experienced a surge of pay-TV viewers on Monday 12 July and pushing it to the top of TV news ratings in that month on MultiChoice's DStv.

Having poached SABC News and eNCA talent ranging from Vaylen Kirtley to Thembekile Mrototo this year, Newzfeed with Stephen Grootes on 12 July was the 22nd most-watched and highest-rated TV news show on DStv in July - the first time that Newzroom Afrika had such a ratings victory that counts as a new highwater-mark viewership success for the channel.

This was closely followed by Newzroom Afrika's Daytime Update block between 12:00 and 15:00 on the same day that lured 470 324 (1.22 AR / 6.9 share) viewers, giving the channel a second notch and bragging rights during that month's ratings ladder.

More Moja and Uzalo

The year gave e.tv reason to smile with its new primetime soap at 19:00, House of Zwide, that replaced the cancelled Rhythm City, which is a bona fide ratings success, luring in excess of 4 million viewers monthly.

On pay-TV, the tabloid content of Moja Love (DStv 157) continued to grip lower-tiered DStv subscribers during 2021 with the channel that kept rising in the ratings race, making Moja Love the biggest pay-TV channel ratings gainer in the year.

In some months Moja Love became the most-watched content on all of DStv, pushing Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) out of the top spots with its collection of sensationalist reality shows like Ujayola 9/9, Isencane Lengane, Giants of the City, Mamazala, No Excuse Pay Papgeld and Single and Mingle.

On free TV, the SABC1-trifecta of Uzalo, Generations and Skeem Saam kept the crown as the country's most-watched shows and entertainment programming with respectively around 8 million, 6.5 million and 5 million viewers.

Props to Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid with e.tv that broadcast it for the umpteenth time in 2021 and still bit a whopping 3.5 million viewers.

Ratings losers and disappointments

The South African public broadcaster's "problem child", SABC3, became even more of a problem in 2021 as ratings keep tanking month after month all through the year even after a disastrous rebrand to "S3" that didn't do anything to stem the loss of viewers.

Over the last 5 years, SABC3 lost over 50% of its audience and shed some more in 2021.

From 1.525 million viewers that SABC3 had in January 2016 half a decade ago - already a small percentage from the channel's heydeys in the 2000s - ongoing viewership and TV rating erosion saw its viewership plummet to as low as 625 717 viewers (excluding a once-off soccer broadcast) by October.

The success of e.tv's House of Zwide pummelled S3's new soap The Estate in the same death-zone 19:00-timeslot that has been a ratings disaster for the channel - so much so that the SABC decided on repurposing-triage by putting reruns of The Estate on SABC1 during prime time as a windowing-experiment to try and funnel viewers to SABC3.

SABC3's attempt to introduce a new late afternoon talk show this year with Unpacked with Relebogile was also a dud, sliding from an already-low 340 000 viewers to just over 300 000 by August with none of the buzz that 3Talk with Noeleen and Real Talk with Anele once had.

With little exposure and buzz, South Africa's Ugly Betty-version of uBettina Wethu was a ratings disappointment in the 19:30-timeslot on SABC1, while Die Sentrum from Penguin Films that replaced the Friday episode of 7de Laan lured far less viewers and saw SABC2 end the timeslot-replacement experiment.

The shockingly sharp decline if Idols

The year's biggest ratings-shocker was M-Net and [SIC] Entertainment's long-running Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) that suddenly plunged in viewership after scandal engulfed the choreographer-socialite Somizi Mhlongo who immediately exited the 17th season after serious allegations of physical abuse.

Idols started off season 17 with 1 018 607 viewers on Mzansi Magic in July as usual, as the 4th most-watched show on all of DStv for the month.

Instead of climbing and the usual ratings increase as interest would build, Idols suddenly plunged with DStv subscribers who were no longer interested in watching following the scandal as the show plunged to 10th place on DStv's most-watched list with 693 760 viewers at most in August.

It was further downhill from there for Idols with a season-low of just 683 814 viewers in October, far-off from where Idols used to rank during the live Sunday live spectacular broadcasts. So bad was the ratings that for the first time since Idols began on South African television, Mzansi Magic axed the post-finale press conference for the winner.

Once American Idol ratings started to tank in the United States it never recovered and it will be interesting to see what Idols does viewership wise in 2022 for its 18th season.

CORONAVIRUS. SABC to broadcast Covid-19 messages at a heavily discounted ad rate in South Africa during primetime TV shows like Uzalo and Generations.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster will start to broadcast Covid-19 public service announcement commercials from CovidComms SA at a heavily discounted rate during primetime programming like during SABC1's Uzalo and Generations - The Legacy, the SABC's two most-watched and most expensive shows to advertise in, to inform the public about the coronavirus, the looming 4th wave and to combat misinformation and falsehoods about the virus, its spread and the importance of Covid-19 vaccines.

With the 4th wave of the Covid-19 pandemic looming and set to hit South Africa from early December 2021 and with the country that is currently experiencing its third wave of Covid-19 infections and cases, the SABC is partnering with CovidComms SA to broadcast an awareness campaign.

CovidComms SA that was created in March 2020have so far produced 200 information products, many in at least 6 South African languages.

Chris Vick of CovidComms SA says "What we really need is primetime viewers to be exposed to vital public health messages. We have been in discussion with a number of media houses about what we are calling a primetime challenge".

Calling on MultiChoice and its DStv Media Sales division, M-Net, SuperSport, e.tv, radio stations and other broadcasters, CovidComms SA says that "We are calling on broadcasters, in particular, to make primetime slots available at no cost, or at least a significantly discounted rate".

Chris Vick says that "The SABC has responded particularly well and has offered us, at significant discounts on TV and radio, airtime. We believe, to make the make the commitment really meaningful, we need corporate South Africa to come onboard and to support the flighting of our fourth wave material on high visibility platforms across the commercial media".

So far 150 community newspapers in South Africa have also committed to distributing CovidComms SA's Covid-19 information at a discounted rate.

Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, says "At the heart of this is the need to advance the national interest. It is very expensive to do this because, as the SABC, we always have to ensure that we display that we are doing it because it is the right thing for the country. We've had to discount quite heavily."

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.

CORONAVIRUS. Talented scriptwriter Christian Blomkamp (44) has died from Covid-19: 'He may be gone from this world, but his stories will live on'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The talented South African scriptwriter Christian Blomkamp has died from Covid-19 complications. He was 44.

Christian Blomkamp who was born on 25 November 1976 has been hospitalised after contracting Covid-19 and died on Friday 30 July with friends and colleagues who said that although he’s gone his stories will live on.

"Our beautiful son and brother to Cath died this afternoon," his father, Paul wrote on Facebook. "Tonight we travel a different road. A scary and utterly lonely road. Our love for him is the one light we have to show the way. We love you dear Christian. For always."

As a TV writer Christian Blomkamp scripted numerous episodes for several of the country's most-watched shows.

Christian Blomkamp was a former head writer for the Morula Pictures-produced Generations on SABC1. 

He also wrote for The Wild on M-Net (DStv 101), as well as series on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel like Isibaya produced by The Bomb Shelter, Gomora produced by Seriti Films, and The Omen produced by Magic Drum Films.

Christian Blomkamp was also a scriptwriter on SABC3's Isidingo, as well as a storyliner and senior writer on e.tv's weekday soap Rhythm City produced by Quizzical Pictures until that show's conclusion in mid-July.

Zeli Zulu, Rhythm City head writer, in a tribute, told TVwithThinus that "Christian Blomkamp was, like the, characters he created and the stories he wrote, a special human being".

"He was kind, gentle and generous. Everything he did, he gave of himself completely - a talented writer who, in his own words, 'just wanted to tell a good story'. And he gave us great stories, the greatest one being the story of his life. To know Chris was to love him. He had a cheeky sense of humour, a natural ability to bring light, even in the darkest of times."

"His loyalty to those he loved was steadfast and unwavering. His commitment to the industry, unmatched."

"This is an incredible loss, but we take heart in knowing that right up until the very end, he was doing what he loved the most - telling stories. He may be gone from this world, but his stories will live on. Until we meet again, friend, brother, son and scribe".

The producer, writer and actress Tiffany Barbuzano told TVwithThinus about Christian Blomkamp in a tribute that "We met when we were bright-eyed and ready to take on the world. We shared so many incredible moments at university together. Broken hearts, beautiful dreams, secret crushes".

"You loved to tease me with your 'soft hands'. Your beautiful piano player hands. You wanted nothing more than to be loved and deserved nothing but the best kind of love. You understood story and character on a level most only wish they could."

"Nothing made me laugh more than your astute commentary on our industry and the people who work in it. Dearest friend, we never got to write that script together ... I never got to taste one of your incredible patisserie creations. But I will always hold our friendship deep in my heart. Rest gently beautiful friend. You'll always have a place at our table."

The radio presenter Bailey Georgiades (Schneider) who does The Bailey Boost podcast host, and who now lives Athens, Greece and blogs at vanillablonde.co.za described her friend to TVwithThinus as "an incredibly special man, with some of the best storytelling skills I've ever come across".

"I am absolutely devastated to lose Christian Blomkamp - one of the most talented, kindest, funniest and most thoughtful! I was one of the lucky ones to have him as one of my best friends and I adored him."

"Christian was one of the best storytellers I've ever met! He created the best stories and characters for TV viewers all over SA, scriptwriting for The Wild, former headwriter of Generations, Isidingo, Isibaya, Rhythm City and more."

"His talent didn’t end with writing, he was doing an impressive pastry chef course, which just showed how he could do anything he put his mind to. Proud is an understatement!"

"I'm going to miss him more than I know how to put into words - he has left a massive void in my life and I am heartbroken! Rest in peace my incredible friend ... until we meet again."

Actress Sindi Buthelezi (32) known for her role as Zinhle in Generations has died.

by Thinus Ferreira

Actress Sindi Buthelezi known for her role as Zinhle Mathe in SABC1's Generations has died. She was 32.

The cause of Sindi Buthelezi's death is not yet known and her sister Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane confirmed her death.

Born and raised in Ratanda on the East Rand in Gauteng, Sindi Buthelezi started her acting career at a local community hall.

Unable to afford drama studies at AFDA she studied towards a PR qualification at the University of Johannesburg and left the PR industry after two years, getting a role in a short film entitled Babe Come Duze on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

She joined Generations in 2013. In 2014 Sindi Buthelezi was picked up by SABC1's Soul City for the role of Ntombi and in 2016 she appeared in e.tv's telenovela Ashes to Ashes as Patience Khumalo. She also played a reporter in Mzansi Magic's Isibaya.

Actor Menzi Ngubane (56) dies at home after suffering a stroke.

by Thinus Ferreira

The actor Menzi Ngubane who has been ill for some time has died at home after suffering a stroke. He was 56.

Menzi Ngubane who was born on 28 August 1964 leaves behind his wife Sikelelwa and two daughters.

"It is with great sadness that the Ngubane family announces the passing of its son, acclaimed actor Menzi Ngubane who passed away earlier today," his family said in a statement on Saturday. "The 56-year old award-winning actor passed away due to a stroke at home". 

The public health battles with diabetes and kidney failure the past few years have been well-known of the actor who found fame for his role of Sibusiso Dlomo or Ngamla in SABC1's Generations between 2003 and 2014.

In 2014 Menzi Ngubane was fired by creator Mfundi Vundla and Morula Pictures - along with the entire main cast when they waged a wage dispute and started a strike demanding better pay and working conditions. He underwent a kidney transplant later in the same year.

The next year Menzi Ngubane joined rival TV channel e.tv's new telenovela Ashes to Ashes in 2015 in the role of detective Nkonzo Mazibuko and jumped to e.tv's other new telenovela, Gold Diggers, later that same year in the role of Israel.

Menzi Ngubane then moved on to other roles like Judas in Isibaya on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161). 

A role in Ferguson Films' The Queen was axed due to his health issues.

"Over the past 10 years the Ladysmith-born actor spent much of his time in trying to demystify issues relating to kidney disease and sugar diabetes while promoting positive lifestyle changes needed to cope with these diseases."

"Between 2010 and 2015 Menzi Ngubane's numerous struggles with kidney failure resulted in him being placed in a kidney recipients list and ultimately receiving a donor ensuring he continued and sustained his acting career until recently".

"As a family we wish to thank everyone for their continued and sustained support and the prayers for our beloved son whose battle with kidney failure and sugar diabetes had become an open secret the past few years. We wish to mourn the passing of our beloved son in private and will communicate the funeral and other arrangements in due course," the family says.

Menzi Ngubane who won and was nominated for a number of film and television awards in South Africa also appeared in the 2004-film Country of my Skull alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Juliette Binoche. 

He also had a role in How to Steal 2 Million with the film that won Best Picture in 2012 at the African Movie Academy Awards.

Menzi Ngubane appeared in the TV series Kwa Khala Nyonini in 1987 as the character of Cijimpi after which he won an Avanti Award in the Best Actor in a drama series category for his role in uBambolwami.

Menzi Ngubane appeared as Jerome in the TV series Gaz'lam and on stage in productions like Street Sisters, A 100-year Celebration of the South African National Anthem, as well as Kamieng, and played Seazar, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Caesar, that was performed in South Africa as well as in Britain.

In SABC1's Yzio Yizo he had the role of Elliot and in Soul City on the same channel he also appeared as Zola Dube. In SABC1's 2020 series Family Secrets Menzi Ngubane starred as Napoleon Biko, and he also appeared in e.tv's drama series Heist.

Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture, in a statement on Sunday morning said that he was "deeply saddened by the passing of Noxolo Maqashalala and Menzi Ngubane".

"The sector has been robbed at a time when there is so much tension and stress in the industry due to the economic collapse and already-existing challenges within the industry".

"South Africa and the world have lost two phenomenal thespians," said the minister, describing Menzi Ngubane as "an icon, an acting aficionado" and  Noxee Maqashalala as "one of South Africa’s greatest actresses of our time".   

The SABC in a statement on Sunday said that the South African public broadcaster "has learnt with shock and sadness of the passing of veteran South African actor Menzi Ngubane and distinguished actress, Noxolo Maqashalala".

"The entertainment industry has lost two giants whose gap will be felt by the industry and fans alike. They both leave a formidable legacy that upcoming actors and actresses can access for years to come."

ALSO READ: Unexpected death of actress Noxee Maqashalala (44) shocks.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 2 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ As South Africa's bloated and financially struggling public broadcaster gets ready to retrench hundreds of staffers the SABC is looking for an external service provider to do job evaluations for the SABC for 6 months.

■ Fox in America cancels its new drama series Filthy Rich and NeXt after single seasons (both of which are actually good).

■ James Bond actor Sean Connery dead at 90.

■ The correspondents of The Daily Show seen on Comedy Central (DStv 122) on the difficulties and how they've been adjusting to filming from their living rooms.

■ England in new Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown: TV and film industry can continue but cinemas will have to close.

■ CNN (DStv 401) reporter Amara Walker in 3 anti-Asian racist incidents in 1 hour inside an American airport.

■ Katlego Maboe: 6 things to know as the TV presenter now faces a court battle.

■ "The worst Top Gear I've ever seen!"

Many viewers feel that the "new" Top Gear seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) doesn't work and is awkward.

■ eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv fined over Gareth Cliff's Covid-19 conspiracy theorist show.

- Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) says the Gareth Cliff interview damaged eNCA and raised serious questions about the editorial failures at the eMedia Investments channel:

"While the host and producer should shoulder some of the blame, serious questions need to be raised about the editorial failure that gave the go-ahead to run the interview."

■ Nigeria's corrupt National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that is handing out fines to TV channels like AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV for covering #EndSARS public protests should stop trying to "padlock the air".

■ The creator of This is Us, seen on M-Net (DStv 101) explains how #BlackLivesMatter and the Covid-19 pandemic will feature in the new 5th season.

■ Why Netflix will keep raising its prices for subscribers.

■ Shock-couple Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha apparently signed a R3 million contract to do a 13-episode reality series with MultiChoice's Showmax streaming service.

■ China's state-run China Central TV (CCTV) remains shrouded in secrecy.

- Mexican TV news anchor shot dead in his car.

■ How to look rich on TV: The Undoing that will be shown on M-Net (DStv 101) and what money looks like on the TV screen.

Creating a fictional world for the 1 percent isn't as easy as it seems.

■ SABC1's Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla on his art collection and what's hanging in his bathroom.

■ SABC: We can't make money from Google's YouTube.

Coronavirus: Generations on SABC1 the next South African local TV series shuttered because of Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

Generations: The Legacy on SABC1 is the latest South African TV show that has shut down because of a positive Covid-19 case as the list keeps growing of local series who have tried to return to a "new normal" production schedule are one by one forced to close their studio doors again because of the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Generations: The Legacy, produced by Morula Pictures in Johannesburg is now shut as well, and follows after SABC2's Sesotho telenovela Lithapo, produced by Quizzical Pictures, turned off the cameras last week on Friday because of a Covid-19 case.

A week before that SABC2's 7de Laan produced by Danie Odendaal Productions abruptly shuttered, along with both of e.tv's primetime soaps - Rhythm City produced by Quizzical Pictures and Scandal! produced by Ochre Media. All have positive Covid-19 cases and film at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg.

Before that SABC2's Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth Productions shuttered because of Covid-19, and before that Skeem Saam on SABC1, and M-Net's The River produced by Tshedza Pictures for 1Magic (DStv 103). The River is back up and running again.

The shuttering of a growing number of TV series comes after the entire South Africa film and TV industry abruptly closed in late-March for the national lockdown period. The already-struggling industry already shed thousands of jobs in the three months that cameras were turned off and studio doors closed.

"Generations: The Legacy can confirm that a member of the production team has tested positive for Covid-19," says Nandipha Pantsi, Generations publicist, in a statement.

"The infected staff member is currently in self-quarantine and is receiving medical attention."

"For the safety of our cast and crew, we have decided to shut down production until further notice. Our cast and crew have been urged to self-isolate. In the meantime, our offices and studios will be deep-cleaned."

"Production will resume when it is appropriate to do so. We extend our support to the infected member of our staff and wish them a speedy recovery."

"Generations: The Legacy shoots months in advance so the break won’t affect airing episodes in any significant way."

TV RATINGS APRIL 2020. South Africa's record TV ratings surge during Covid-19 continues as viewers tune in for local shows and seek out TV news.

by Thinus Ferreira

With the country still in a state of lockdown South Africa's already-record TV ratings surge in March continued in April with new and stratospheric viewership highwater marks for top entertainment shows across public television, commercial TV and pay-TV, while news ratings because of Covid-19 coverage climbed by millions of viewers to new eye-watering record levels.

On the SABC's TV channels the locally-produced weekday prime time dramas Uzalo, Generations and Skeem Saam on SABC1, Rhythm City on e.tv, and the top shows on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service all shattered their own records to reach their highest viewership for episodes ever.

Even the SABC's struggling SABC3 channel logged a one-night-only viewership surge of over 3 million viewers when it broadcast the Contagion pandemic movie that pulled 4.46 million viewers. The channel's top rating is usually just over 1 million viewers.

South Africa and the SABC's most-watched show Uzalo that has now gone into repeats in May, has kept up its already-record ratings surge in April and climbed from 10.2 million viewers to 11.4 million viewers. It means that Uzalo that added a million viewers in March, added another 1.2 million for its most-watched episode in April.

Generations that increased from 8.027 million viewers in February to 8.2 million in March added another whopping 1.3 million viewers to 9.54 million for April.

Skeem Saam that surged from 5.9 million in February to a whopping 7.25 million viewers in March leaped another 1.6 million viewers to 8.84 million. It means that the show added an unheard-of 3 million viewers since the start of 2020.

On SABC2 the Venda weekday drama Muvhango remained as the channel's most-watched show at a 5.2 million viewers.

SABC News coverage broadcast on 21 April on SABC2 pulled an astounding 5.01 million viewers, while president Cyril Ramaphosa's national address on 23 April on additional Covid-19 relief measures pulled 4.68 million viewers, and his address on 9 April lured 3.4 million viewers.

Ratings for these live presidential speeches dwarf the ratings of shows like 7de Laan than increased from 2 million to 2.16 million viewers in April on SABC2, and Lithapo that climbed from 1.79 million to 2.1 million viewers.

SABC3 that is still facing immense systemic problems had an eye-popping reality check about what the channel is really capable of.

The Steven Soderbergh directed film Contagion from2011 did unreal numbers not seen on SABC3 for decades, pulling an eye-watering 4.46 million viewers (12.4 AR, 49.2 share) on Sunday night 5 April. It means that one out of every two TV sets that were turned on that night, were tuned to Contagion.

Besides the mere audience share the 4.46 million is extremely significant since the channel hardly crack the 1 million viewership mark. It also means that advertisers who pre-booked 30 second spots during the timeslot got a massive bonus - getting three times as many viewers against the guaranteed audience level and spot rate they had paid for.

Interesting to note is that Top Billing - although cancelled - remains a very strong performer and keeps punching far above its weight, even in repeats, luring 634 529 viewers in a highly-desirable demographic, during April as SABC3's 15th most-watched show for the month, indicating that it was very likely a mistake to cancel it.

This Top Billing performance also comes from a Saturday 18:00 audience - traditionally the least-watched day and time of the week.

On the free-to-air commercial broadcaster e.tv its two locally produced prime time soaps and double-barrel top performers also continued to build their lead with Scandal! that retaining its crown as the most-watched show on the channel and that already upping its rating from 4.8 million to 5.17 million in March that grew to 6.255 million viewers in April.

Rhythm City that lifted from 3.4 million to 3.8 million in March added - no typo here - another 1 million viewers in April to 4.863 million viewers. Imbewu increased from 4.1 million to 4.7 million viewers.

Meanwhile Family Feud South Africa, a localised version with Steve Harvey made it's first ratings showing, luring 2.61 million viewers (7.26 AR).


Pay-TV on the up and up
While MultiChoice is going without live sports on SuperSport it didn't impact the DStv ratings negatively where the ratings dam level likewise kept rising to new highs.

The new Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) Gomora drama series that made a shocking ratings debut at 1.7 million viewers in late-March surged to a dazzling high of 2.51 million viewers in April, toppling The Queen (something usually only achieved by reality singing competition Idols) to become the most-watched show on DStv.

Ferguson Films' The Queen doesn't have to feel bad though: It edged up from 2.2 million to 2.36 million viewers in April.

In fact, all of DStv's most-watched shows became even more most-watched in April.

Our Perfect Wedding with pre-recorded new episodes of weddings climbed from 1.83 million to a phenomenal 1.9 million viewers, Date My Family went from 1.63 million to 1.79 million viewers, Mhakwethu increased from 1.34 million to 1.475 million viewers, while The River kept flowing stronger from 1.165 million to 1.4 million viewers.


Dramatic TV news ratings surge
A dramatic surge in TV news consumption by South African audiences continue to propel TV news ratings to new record levels across almost all channels never before seen in the country.

As the international and local devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic weaves a horrific, compelling news narrative, viewers keep coming back daily and keep tuning in in record numbers to South African TV news bulletins in every language, across multiple channels.

eNCA (DStv 403) remains the most-watched South African TV news channel. It had the most-watched news programme on pay-TV with 912 336 viewers that grew with Nightline that surged to 1.503 million viewers in April as the 6th most-watched piece of programming on all of DStv during the month. Full View on SABC News (DStv 404) logged a monthly best of 894 917 viewers.

Take a look at the utterly astounding TV news audience growth: The Xhosa TV news bulletin on SABC1 - still the most-watched TV news bulletin in South Africa - that already jumped a staggering 1.2 million viewers from February to March to 5.39 million viewers, increased further in April to 6.215 million viewers - an increase of almost another million.

The Xhosa TV news is now South Africa and SABC1's fourth most-watched show.

The Zulu TV news bulletin (SABC1) that went from February's 3.94 million viewers to 5.28 million in March added almost 800 000 viewers to reach 6.014 million viewers in April.

SABC2's Tswana TV news bulletin likewise gained further viewers - in fact, the audience ... doubled. After it showed a massive increase in viewers to 1.75 million in March, it grew to 3.654 million viewers in April adding an unbelievable 1.9 million viewers in just one month.

The Afrikaans TV news bulletin that grew from 1.38 million in February to 1.6 million in March edged up to 1.729 million viewers, while the SABC's flagship English SABC News TV bulletin on SABC3 grew from 650 306 sets of eyeballs in March to 1.034 million viewers.

On e.tv the viewership of its most-watched TV news bulletin went from 1.81 million viewers to 2.513 million viewers.

How South Africa's no-sex soaps are adjusting on-set during Covid-19: Creative camera tricks, no holding hands and the end of on-screen intimacy.

by Thinus Ferreira

As South Africa's hugely popular TV soaps turn sexless and are even kissing kisses goodbye during the Covid-19 pandemic, producers and directors plan on using nifty camera tricks and other cinematography secrets to fool viewers as filming resumes on the country's local primetime productions.

As studio lots from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Durban reopened this week for cameras to roll on soaps and telenovelas ranging from Uzalo and Suidooster to Rhythm City, and from Generations to Getroud Met Rugby, Scandal!, Binnelanders and Skeem Saam to Imbewu, broadcasters and production companies now have to juggle and adapt story demands and completed scripts with extremely strict on-set Covid-19 preventative regulations.

According to the latest published Covid-19 regulations for Level 4 of the country's national lockdown period, the responsibility is on broadcasters like the SABC, e.tv, M-Net that runs channel collections like Mzansi Magic and kykNET on DStv, as well as MultiChoice, to ensure that series that were already in production adhere to the latest rules.

These include things like replacing craft services with packed boxes of lunches and a total limit of on-set cast and crew of 50 people.

Also no sex scenes, please.

While the casts and crews where soaps have started to reopen with filming this week - and SABC2's Venda weekday soap Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth, that will start on Monday - are all wearing masks and face shields on studio lots, actors' masks come off when they're in front of the camera, although they're filmed standing further apart and in single scenes.

The regulations have banned intimate scenes or close contact between actors and this is where writers, producers, cameramen, directors and video editors will have to become creative.

It's the end for bed-hopping and smootches for the young crowd of SABC1's Skeem Saam filmed at Sasani Studios for now where filming started on Monday.

"We have had to make sure that we restrict the number of people shooting at a time so that we are able to keep safe distances. There will no longer be scenes filmed where there is close contact between characters," publicist Sumaya Mogola told TVwithThinus. "Whether it might come across differently on screen, we can't really say at this point."

Sexy time is also out on Generations, produced by Morula Pictures in Johannesburg, where production and filming resumed on Tuesday with groups of cast and crew now divided into workflow teams to keep them separate. The production team now consists out of three teams of up to 12 people.

"Yes, there won't be any physical contact between the actors," Generations publicist Nandipha Pantsi told TVwithThinus. "No kissing, holding hands or intimate scenes. Actors will also be practising social distancing on set. Camera trickery will be used to make them appear closer together."

South Africa's most-watched TV show, Uzalo on SABC1 produced by Stained Glass TV on its Durban studio lot switched on the cameras again on Wednesday and here, also, Covid-19 has canned the on-set canoodling.

"No intimacy will be permitted in performance," Uzalo publicist Nomfundo Zondi tells me. "Where possible, the number of cast members participating in a scene will also be limited."

In the fictional Hillside suburb of SABC2's 7de Laan, filming already started on Friday 1 May last week at Sasani Studios although the workflow never really stopped. The Afrikaans weekday soap that initially would have run out of episodes by 25 May had a core team who kept working to complete further episodes already filmed.

7de Laan's editing team worked from home during Level 5 of lockdown managing to complete episodes to now keep the show on the SABC2 airwaves until at least 1 June. The scripting department also kept writing and churning out new scripts from home.

7de Laan also confirms the end to kissing and any other intimate scenes between Hillside characters. "Extras will only be used if it’s absolutely necessary to do so and this will be kept to the bare minimum. There will be no intimate or close contact between actors," the soap says.

e.tv's two Sasani Studios produced soaps - Rhythm City done by Quizzical Pictures and Scandal! done by Ochre Moving Pictures - as well as Imbewu filmed in KwaZulu-Natal from its harbour-front studios in Sydney Road all resumed production, keeping to the new regulations with a ban on kissing and on-screen intimacy.

"Scripts will be adjusted accordingly without compromising any storylines," says Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director.

Getroud met Rugby (GMR), produced by Overberg Produksies at Atlas Studios in Milpark, Johannesburg as one of kykNET's three weekday Afrikaans soaps also kicked off again on Monday with filming.

"We're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be able to work again," executive producer Soné Combrinck tells TVwithThinus, noting that the rugby-themed production "jumped to quickly prepare everything according to the latest government rules and regulations".

"It makes everyone feel safe knowing that the studio environment is safe to work again. The team quickly adapted to the new regime of temperature checks, wearing masks, sanitising hands and surfaces."

She says GMR's directors and camera team are extremely creative and that while adjustments are being made kykNET viewers can still look forward to the soap that will be filled with a lot of drama, intrigue and humour.

kykNET's Suidooster produced at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town by Suidooster Films, and Binnelanders produced by Stark Films at Stark Studios in Johannesburg, were also asked about their shows but didn't respond with any answers.


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: South Africa's decimated film and TV industry allowed back to work amidst Covid-19 pandemic – but without extras or studio audiences.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Independent Producers Organisation cautions that 'the situation is fluid' as South Africa's film and TV industry is allowed back at work under strict on-set requirements.

Coronavirus: SABC sets up disaster recovery site with Outside Broadcast vans; production of soaps and scripted shows shuttered; news and actuality to continue during 21-day national lockdown.

by Thinus Ferreira

As South Africa enters a period of 21-days of a national lockdown the SABC has ordered all of its locally-produced soaps and drama series to shut down production although they will all remain on-air with pre-recorded episodes, while SABC news and actuality programmes will also continue on television and radio.

As the country tries to curb the rapid spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country, the SABC has set up a disaster recovery site away from its Auckland Park headquarters in Johannesburg, consisting out of Outside Broadcast (OB) vans.

This site will take over in case of emergency to ensure that SABC TV and radio broadcasts continue uninterrupted. Two more studios at Auckland Park have been reserved for use by the department of education from which educational programming will be produced during the national lockdown period.

"Our logistical services department will continue to sanitise SABC radio studios between programmes as the crew switches over to reduce the risk of any contamination," says the broadcaster.

"During the switch-over, mechanisms have been put in place to allow cleaning teams enough time to do a thorough sanitation process."

"The SABC is working tirelessly to ensure that its core business of delivering on news and current affairs programmes as well as TV and radio programming will continue under stringent conditions, with alternative broadcast plans in place.

In terms of studio interviews the SABC has taken a decision to not allow any studio interviews during this period but use various alternative ways to communicate with newsmakers."

The SABC says that it has told production companies producing soaps, other drama series and scripted series to shut down. This includes Uzalo, Generations and Skeem Saam on SABC1 and 7de Laan, Muvhango and Lithapo on SABC2.

"Currently the SABC has enough broadcast stock during the lockdown and will continue to entertain millions of South Africans with their favourite soaps," says the SABC.

SABC1 will broadcast new pre-recorded episodes of Daily Thetha until 9 April 2020, after which it will switch to replacement content. Production has shut down of the just-restarted YO.TV on SABC1 that will show a mix of pre-recorded programming and replacement content.

SABC2 and SABC3 will continue to broadcast pre-recorded episodes of its youth blocks Hectic Nine 9 and Hectic on 3.

The SABC says that all SABC radio drama productions have shuttered. "More focus will be on increasing curriculum-based educational programmes to support learners during this time and creating more captivating programmes to keep listeners entertained."

The SABC has also shut down all SABC Sport TV productions that are being replaced on schedules with licensed international sports content. Midday programming is being replaced with educational content. The SABC will continue radio sports talk shows with safety precautions in place.

"As a public service broadcaster, it is important that the SABC meets both its public mandate and organisational objectives. This means that we need to balance our obligation to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees and service providers, as well as maintaining business continuity, as our services are critical to the South African public," says Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO.

Ntabiseng Tau, Muvhango senior creative director, said the SABC2 started to shut down this week on Tuesday. "We've shot a couple of scenes on Tuesday morning to kind of safeguard where we are in production, in terms of deliverables and to have things that are on air."

Nandipha Pantsi, Generations The Legacy spokesperson, says "We are taking the current crisis seriously and are doing everything in our power to mitigate against it. However, we do have enough material to air".

"We have enough episodes to stay on air during the lockdown period. Cast and crew will be paid as per usual."

In a statement the SABC1 drama series Skeem Saam says "The safety and health of our crew and cast is the biggest priority. For our fans though, the entertainment and drama will continue as per usual in the signature Skeem Saam way so they don't need to worry about their daily dose".

Generations The Legacy on SABC1 renewed for 2 further seasons while the SABC ponders whether SABC3's Isidingo is still needed.

The South African public broadcaster has renewed its one SABC1 prime time weekday soap Generations - The Legacy for two more seasons while the broadcaster remains silent over the fate of the long-running Isidingo on SABC3 facing possible cancellation.

Generations - The Legacy on SABC1 on Monday night continued uninterrupted despite an announcement three days earlier that it would go into reruns as part of  a "summer break" of old themed rerun episodes that was set to start on Monday - a plan which was abruptly scuppered.

Generations - The Legacy is SABC1 and South African television's second-most watched TV show and pulled 9.23 million viewers (25.7 AR / 65.4 share) during October.

The SABC dragged its heels in signing a new contract for a 6th season of Generations - The Legacy with Morula Pictures, owned by Mfundi Vundla, but finally did so on Monday 25 November.

Although the SABC on Friday announced that Generations - The Legacy would go into repeats on SABC1 from Monday and not revealing that it was because no further contract existed, a period of schedule padding with reruns didn't start on Monday at 20:00.

Instead a new first-run episode of Generations - The Legacy was broadcast on SABC1 after the SABC concluded a new 2-year contract with Morula Pictures.

At 20:05 the SABC in a statement said that "the SABC and Morula Pictures are pleased to announce that Generations - The Legacy has been recommissioned for two new seasons".

The SABC said that "Generations - The Legacy will continue uninterrupted and audiences will be spoilt with fresh episodes throughout December and the rest of 2020."

Neither Phillip Mabitsela, SABC1 publicist, nor Morula Pictures responded to media enquiries made since Friday.

Meanwhile questions continue to swirl whether the struggling prime time soap Isidingo - The Need on SABC3 is getting renewed of axed.

Neither the SABC nor Pomegranate Media have responded to media enquries seeking clarity over the future of Isidingo that is facing possible cancellation.

The longrunning local soap that has shed popular characters and viewers drew a paltry 957 500 viewers in October on SABC3 which remains the public broadcaster's biggest headache and struggling to make money as the SABC's only commercial TV channel.

The SABC has done away with and cancelled most of SABC3's high-cost, longrunning signature programming over the past three years including Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, High Rollers, 3Talk and its replacement Real Talk, as well as Top Billing.

Unable to conclude a new Generations The Legacy contract after demanding production length cuts SABC abruptly puts SABC1's Morula Pictures soap into reruns for 2019 festive period.

Generations - The Legacy is abruptly gone from SABC1 from tonight in prime time and replaced with old reruns of the decades-old Generations after the South African public broadcaster failed to sign a new contract for a 6th season with Morula Pictures.

Generations - The Legacy is SABC1 and South African television's second-most watched TV show and pulled 9.23 million viewers (25.7 AR / 65.4 share) during October.

This makes the show "too big to fail" as one of the few remaining successful on-air properties for the struggling South African public broadcaster and means that the SABC and Morula, owned by producer Mfundi Vundla, will very likely conclude a new contract although the two sides are still currently at odds because of some changed terms that the SABC is allegedly demanding.

In a statement SABC1 says "starting from Monday 25 November the soapie will go down memory lane by screening selected iconic episodes of Mzansi's most-loved soapie, Generations, in celebration of its indomitable records, reminiscing on talent who went on to become households names and storytelling spanning 28 years".

SABC1 calls the Generations library episode reruns - for which no time period is specified - a "summer break", saying that "favourite villains, heroes and matriarchs from the past will be brought back to turn this year's festive break into a nostalgic, unforgettable television experience".

According to highly-placed SABC insiders, negotiations stalled and couldn't be concluded in time for a new, signed contract due to the SABC allegedly demanding some changes, including a reduction in the half-hour episode lengths.

The SABC wants this in order to give the broadcaster's commercial enterprises division that handles ad sales for Generations, more 30-second ad spots inventory to sell during the lucrative 20:00 weekday timeslot on SABC1.

The SABC currently charges around R200 000 per 30-second TV advert during Generations and with the cash-strapped broadcaster looking at increasing revenue where it can, wants to add more commercials in order to squeeze out more income from successful shows on its channels' schedules.

Morula Pictures as a production company will however make less money if the actually delivered story minutes per half-hour episode is reduced and which adds up to multiple hours less Generations - The Legacy on-screen over the course of a year.

Phillip Mabitsela, SABC1 publicist, didn't respond to a media enquiry on Friday. Morula Pictures was asked for comment which will be added if received.

SOAP REVOLVING DOOR. Gerard Rudolf dumped from Isidingo on SABC3, Salamina Mosese picked up by Generations on SABC1, Pascal Pienaar gone from Binnelanders on kykNET.

Like sand through the hourglass so are the comings and going from weekday TV soaps in South Africa - Gerard Rudolf has been dumped from Isidingo on SABC3, Salamina Mosese has been added to Generations on SABC1 and Pascal Pienaar exited Binnelanders on kykNET (DStv 144).

Gerard Rudolf who played the character of Hendrik Lategan appeared on-screen for the last time on Isidingo on Monday 10 June when the character of Hendrik was killed off after suffering a brain aneurysm.

In a statement Pomegranate Media now producing Isidingo says "To Gerard Rudolf thank you for sharing your craft and impeccable talent with the Isidingo family and fans. Your presence on and off screen will be sorely missed".

Meanwhile Salamina Mosese has joined Generations: The Legacy, produced by Morula Pictures on SABC1.

The former 7de Laan soap star appears as Christine, the head of marketing at Nova Wines and is responsible for choosing which one of the Moroka brothers is best for her business – Mazwi or Smanga.

In a statement Salamina Mosese says "Getting the chance to join the cast of one of South Africa's biggest soapies is an opportunity I relish. This is another chapter in my love story with TV and acting".

Actress Pascal Pienaar who played Karli in the Afrikaans weekday soap Binnelanders on kykNET (DStv 144) exited the soap in March this year produced by Stark Films, 5 and a half years after she joined in 2005.

In late-May viewers recently saw the character Karli meet her demise who apparently died from a suicide, although all is not what it seems.

Growing number of shows snub the Saftas as producers' unhappiness with the industry's South African TV and film awards grows.

In an ongoing industry boycott a growing number of South African shows are snubbing the Saftas with producers who again decided not to enter the 13th South African Film and Television Awards set for 2 March, with their creators and crews who won't attend and their stars who won't walk the red carpet.

The conspicuous absence of a string of shows from the badly-organised and shoddily-produced Saftas continues to make the award show, organised by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), look flawed, with the winners not deemed truly legitimate and reflective of the totality of the local TV industry's body of work.

Several of the most-watched weekday shows and dramas across channels on South African television don't want to be part of 2019's 13th Saftas, despite luring millions of viewers daily and collectively employing hundreds of people in the local TV industry.

Not entering the 2019 Saftas are Generations on SABC1, Muvhango on SABC2 and 7de Laan on SABC2.

Also missing-in-action are all of the shows from Ferguson Films like The Queen and The Throne on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), including the eligible first season of The Imposter. M-Net's Arendsvlei on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) is also missing.

Previously the producers of several production companies have had concerns around the Saftas secrecy and lack of transparency and inclusivity, the process and judging process, other issues that they said are not being addressed and getting resolved, and even called the Saftas "not fair".

Deliberately gone again from the Saftas is Generations - The Legacy, produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures, for the second consecutive time. Generations is SABC1's and South Africa's second most-watched show and soap, pulling 7.9 million viewers. Generations' publicist didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about its decision not to enter the Saftas.

Also deliberately gone again is Muvhango, SABC2's Venda soap produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth productions for the fourth consecutive time and fifth time overall. Muvhango is SABC2's most-watched show and soap, pulling 6.1 million viewers. Muvhango's publicist didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about its decision not to enter the Saftas.

Also deliberately absent again is 7de Laan, SABC2's Afrikaans language soap with 2.2 million viewers produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, for the third time in the history of the Saftas after it won as Best Soap in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In response to a media enquiry, 7de Laan said "we will not comment at this stage on our reasons for not entering the upcoming Safta awards".

Meanwhile, all of the popular shows produced under power-producer couple Connie and Shona Ferguson's Ferguson Films banner like The Queen, The Imposter first season (second season now produced by Seriti Films), and The Throne are nowhere to be seen at this year's Saftas. Shona didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about the decision not to enter the awards show.

The telenovela The Queen is the most watched show on all of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform with 1.5 million viewers, while The Throne lured 697 000 viewers in December 2018. The Imposter grabbed just over 1 million viewers during its first season run.

Not part of this year's Saftas without a reason given is kykNET's Afrikaans language telenovela, Arendsvlei although it's eligible. kykNET was asked why but didn't provide an answer although Arendsvlei's Saftas no-show is likely more due to an oversight from the producers than a deliberate snub.

Since the NFVF forces the producers of soaps and telenovelas to enter in other categories if they want to be listed in the overall Most Popular Soap/Telenovela category, these shows - although legitimately forming a huge part of the local genre - have once again been blocked from the Saftas category and can't be voted for.

It means that viewers - actively solicited to vote for the Saftas' Most Popular Soap/Telenovela - can't vote for what might really be most popular or a viewer's most liked show for instance Generations, Muvhango, 7de Laan, The Queen or The Throne, and again will mean a hollow victory for whatever soap is announced the winner.

Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator, didn't respond to media enquiries made since Friday seeking comment on the growing number of producers snubbing the awards and other issues after the Saftas organisers announced the 2019 nominees.

The Saftas that will take place and be broadcast on 2 March on SABC2 at 19:00 and produced by Clive Morris Productions this year, is once again taking place at Sun City but in a new change is dropping the 2-night spectacle - completely doing away with the previously separate, technical awards evening that was a separate awards ceremony that wasn't televised.

The Saftas at Sun City has been criticised as an out-of-touch and not representative money-wasting soiree for film body elites, sponsors and TV executives to clink glasses in luxury while making the ceremony inaccessible to a lot of media, nominees, even its own lifetime achievement award winners not invited, with people having to drive back to Johannesburg and elsewhere late at night.

As in previous years, the Saftas organisers and judges once again also made some perplexing and head-scratching choices regarding nominees in categories for the 13th Saftas.

Some include VIA and Showmax's JAN, a fly-on-the-wall lifestyle documentary series following the life of South Africa's first Michelin-star Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen in Nice that is a very worthy nominee but snagged a nomination in the Best variety show category.

Meanwhile a reality competition show like Die Kontrak is a nominee as Best music show instead of Best reality show, while Starlight Classics 2017 on M-Net is a nominee under Best variety show although it belongs in the Best music show category.