Rights of several shows seen on MultiChoice's DStv, M-Net and the SABC sold to The Africa Channel in the United States, and no, none of the actors, writers or crew are getting residuals.

MultiChoice and M-Net have sold several of its locally-produced shows to The Africa Channel based in Los Angeles and broadcasting across the United States, with none of the actors, writers, crew or talent who will be getting any residuals.

The Africa Channel is adding multiple M-Net series and shows that were broadcast on the SABC to its primetime schedule for 2019, ranging from The Wild and The Wedding Bashers, to The Hostess and High Rollers.

"We have been extremely fortunate to be able to tap into the increasing pool of talent from the continent and beyond, and present world-class content that is bold, diverse and globally appealing to North American audiences," says Karen Juve, The Africa Channel's vice president for programming and acquisitions, in a statement.

M-Net's former weekday soap opera The Wild that M-Net also licensed to e.tv in South Africa and started recently will now also be seen in the United States.

None of the actors or talent of The Wild will see another cent from the broadcast of the show on e.tv or The Africa Channel.

The Mzansi Magic drama series iNumber Number, as well as Hard Copy, High Rollers and The Hostess with Lorna Maseko that were broadcast on SABC3 will be seen by American audiences on The African Channel.

Again none of the actors, writers or talent involved with any of these shows will see any additional payment for the sale of the works they appear in.

The Wedding Bashers, another M-Net show, produced by [SIC] Entertainment has also been picked up by The Africa Channel, as well as Cooking with Siba that was on The Food Network.

While premium South African TV back-catalogue content are being exploited and licensed - as it should - for re-airing in other countries, sadly the people who helped to make those shows, unlike what happens in America with American talent, are left behind and are not benefitting.

SABC3 channel head Aisha Mohamed quits as the SABC explains the channel's latest course correction after years of 'schizophrenia', asks producers to return, says that SABC3 is now targeting 'progressive aspirant millennials'.

SABC3 is once again rudderless after Aisha Mohamed quit as SABC3 channel head, with the SABC admitting that the multiple programming shake-ups on the public broadcaster's only commercial TV channel the past few years had failed and explaining the struggling channel's latest course correction to try and regain audiences.

"Aisha Mohamed has left us and very soon we will announce a replacement," said the SABC.

The "quality shows" SABC3 - once sought out by viewers as the free-to-air "freemium" competitor to M-Net - will now once again be charting yet another new programmatic and scheduling course to try and restore its erstwhile luster.

The well-respected and well-liked Aisha Mohamed joined SABC3 as the channel boss in March 2014 from 5FM where she was station manager. She inherited a channel mired in a financial, management and identity crisis four years ago that she tried her best to rebuild.

Unfortunately the SABC's former chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng made it all but impossible, with unilateral decrees over banishing international content and demands for more cheaply-produced local content.

It led to a flurry of widely panned and low-budget content on the once-prestige channel symbolised by programming like Divas of Jozi, haphazardly introduced and badly unplanned, as part of the notorious "80/20" rule that was introduced from July 2016 on SABC3 and that saw even more viewers flee.

Internal SABC havoc saw SABC3 lose Days of Our Lives to e.tv, ratings plunge for The Bold and the Beautiful after multiple timeslot moves and viewership tumble for the SABC's flagship news broadcast, the English news bulletin, that was once the most watched in the country.

SABC3 also shocked the local TV production industry and damaged relationships with brutal and abrupt moves like cancelling multiple-award winning series like High Rollers mid-second season despite a signed contract and without explaining why. It made producers reluctant to work with SABC3.

The past few years saw SABC3 lose signature shows like Strictly Come Dancing SA and Ultimate Braaimaster to rivals like M-Net and e.tv and would announce programme acquisitions like Come Dine with Me SA and Expedition Impossible only to embarrassingly backtrack and see those shows start on BBC Brit (Dstv 120) and M-Net (DStv 101)instead. 

During Aisha Mohamed's tenure she oversaw two SABC3 channel rebrands, steered and implemented multiple programming line-up changes to try and revive SABC3's lackluster ratings, and had to weather multiple scandals - the last one being the controversy in January with Real Talk that eventually saw the departure of talk show host Anele Mdoda when it was revealed that the SABC engaged in pay-for-play after a government department paid for a minister to do a 2-episode interview on the channel.

While SABC3 is supposed to be the money-spinner to cross-fund the SABC's public mandate channels SABC1 and SABC2, the opposite has been happening the past few years with the public channels keeping SABC3 afloat. It led to speculation, that the SABC denied, that SABC3 should be spin-off and sold so the public broadcaster can concentrate its available resources on SABC and SABC2. 

According to sources who spoke to TVwithThinus, Aisha Mohamed has left for Sony Music. Her last day was last week Thursday. 

David Makubyane, general manager for TV channels looking after the SABC's three channels, will be acting SABC3 channel head for the time being until a replacement can be found.

'The problem with SABC3'

"In the past few years we've had challenges with the channel really changing too many times," said David Makubyane.

"There was this 80/20-rule where there was an introduction of local content for the channel. Once again the schedule had to change. At the time Aisha Mohamed was the head of SABC3. The issue with SABC3 a lot of the times has been the schizophrenia around the channel - people are saying what does it stand for?" said David Makubyane.

"Even if SABC3 stands for a certain position, when you switch on, you find that the content doesn't quite reflect what you're talking about. And one of the things that we want to do is to change that perception - and we want to do that with content that actually says that."

"So we don't want to say verbally, we want SABC3 to speak for itself. When I joined the SABC at the beginning of this year, I went through the whole content with the team, looking at what does it mean when we talk about 'The stage is yours' [SABC3's current slogan], looking at the content on this channel."

"What do we do to actually make sure that the content actually speaks to what the proposition of this channel is? And I found actually, that when we went through the research, and looked at the target audience that SABC3 wants to speak to, that target audience is there."

"The problem with SABC3 is that for many years I think that SABC3 had a hole because the industry wasn't that big. Ten years ago we had SABC1, SABC2, we had e.tv and DStv and now the likes of Mzansi Magic, we've got Netflix, we've got over-the-to (OTT) platforms. The competition at the time was not that big," said David Makubyane.

"So SABC3 could afford to have international programmes, first-run programmes and have an audience that doesn't have pay-TV but will be able to access it."

"But as time went on, around 2010, there was the unbundling of bouquets from MultiChoice, Randburg's acquisition of local sports, so that's when SABC3 I think started to almost lose identity. A lot of audiences that SABC3 was targeting could now afford pay-TV and in this day and age we now have people even moving from pay-TV and getting into the likes of the Showmax and Netflix and so on."

SABC3 now for 'progressive aspirant' millennials

"So currently what we're saying with SABC3, based on the research, is that there is an audience. There's an audience that we are not catering for on SABC1 that's a youth channel. There's an audience we cater for on SABC2 that's the family. But then on SABC3 there are these new millennials - there are these South Africans that are trying to also get content, quality content, that's original."

"They also don't want to watch a programme for the same of 'bubblegum-dance' and so on. They want to engage with the content and they also don't necessarily want to spend too much money. There is an audience as well that is aspirational, that's progressive."

"That's why we say SABC3 is now for the progressive aspirant - that's the target audience. And it's not necessarily based on race. It's not necessarily gender or colour."

"We need to grow with our audiences, move to a stage where we no longer just talk about black or white. We've got this millennial, but not an international millennial. So we go into the psychographics of what does this individual want."

"They want to grow, they're concerned about themselves, they're concerned about their family. They're quintessentially South African, they're proud to be South African but they're very globally inclined. They're globally in touch."

"So what drives them is new technology, lifestyle. They aspire to travel. So it's all of these things that will inform the content that you will see on SABC3 as we move forward, and we would like to talk to that audience."

"The SABC3 audience epicentre is around 30," said David Makubyane. "We're talking to the person who believe that they can achieve whatever."

SABC3 to production companies: Come back to us

"We want to reset the agenda on this channel and move South Africa to the next stage and move away from the typical box and ghetto-ising of audiences. When we say 'the stage is yours' we're saying to production companies, we're saying to those who have licensed products - we're saying to everyone who's got content - we're saying this is also your stage," said David Makubyane.

"Over and above it being a public broadcaster, we really need to make it your stage. So we're going to look at ways of and models of getting content on SABC3 that are not standard. So the pre-sale models, sponsorships - we want to sell out blocks to commercial entities."

"We want to be able to say when we say 'the stage is yours' it needs to be real. You can literally come on SABC3 and own a piece of the channel and feel reflected but within that aspirational, progressive, lifestyle type."

More international content on SABC3 again

'With the financial situation we are in, we need to balance our SABC3 schedule - and that's just the reality - especially SABC3," said David Makubyane.

"So we will be pushing international content slightly up but that's not forever, that's just to make sure that we build back our audiences. As time goes on we really want quality content that is the line to the international content."

"We need to be able to have the budget that will speak to that type of [quality local content]."

"Moving forward we're also going to try and retain the timeslots, just so we can grow habitual viewing on SABC3."

"So we don't want to change the schedule for at least the next two years. Yes, we want to introduce new programmes, but we want to make sure that our 19:30 slot remains stripped for reality, 20:30 is magazine. We've got our 21:30 Thursday night, Friday night - those are the dramas."

"Top Billing is still on. Survivor [Cambodia] is coming back. We've also got a new Top Gear. So there's great content that's coming on SABC3. We really want to make sure that we deliver to this proposition and this is just the beginning."

"By the end of next year - when Aisha left I said to her - it's such a pity because I believe that 12 months from now, SABC3 will be complete and all the slots should be speaking to this type of audience and should be speaking to a South African."

"We want someone to say 'I can tune to SABC3 and get the latest local and international content at the quality that you can get on any other platform in South Africa," said David Makubyane.

SABC 'putting thousands of livelihoods at risk' with failure to pay its biggest shows, as public broadcaster again hovers on the brink of financial collapse.

The SABC racing to the brink of financial collapse is putting "thousands of livelihoods at risk" as some of the SABC's biggest shows like Uzalo, Muvhango, 7de Laan and others are not getting the money they need to produce the content the SABC needs with actors, presenters and production crews anxious as they wait to be paid.

With ongoing plummeting SABC viewership and listenership to record lows, and with the public broadcaster's cash reserves basically depleted, more information is coming to light about the SABC once again finding itself in the precarious position in 2009.

In 2009 after mismanagement, maladministration, corruption and gross overspending, the South African public broadcaster came to the brink of financial collapse and was only saved through a government bail-out in the form of a government-guaranteed loan of R1,4 billion from Nedbank.

Although the public broadcaster was pulled back from the brink, the SABC inflicted massive damage on South Africa's TV industry and decimated independent producers with some who were forced to sell their houses and cars.

Now the SABC is once again in a dramatic cash-crunch months after the controversial former chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng ordered a dramatic increase in local radio airplay on the SABC airwaves and announced his plan for an abrupt increase in local content on SABC TV channels, starting with 80% on SABC3.

SABC executives in July 2016 already raised the alarm that the SABC will be running out of money within months, something the SABC at the time denied. Last month acting SABC CEO James Aguma told parliament that the SABC's finances are stable.

In reality the SABC at the end of this month will have used up the last of its cash reserves.

After the SABC abruptly failed to pay all of its service providers, production companies and creditors at the end of March, the SABC's acting chief financial officer (CFO) Audrey Raphela, in a hurried letter told service providers and producers that "you will be contacted individually by your SABC counterparts to clarify how our obligation to you will be honoured by no later than the week ending of 7 April".

The Daily Sun now reports that SABC1's most watched show, Uzalo, only received partial payment. SABC2's Muvhango and 7de Laan were reportedly not paid and are waiting for their money. It's the same with SABC3's Isidingo that the SABC also allegedly failed didn't pay.

The SABC as a public broadcaster doesn't want to publicly comment about who didn't get paid at the end of March, with SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago that told The Daily Sun "we will not engage in the public domain with the people that we work with. That's why we have decided to engage them directly."

According to insiders several SABC shows ranging from SABC1's Selimathunzi to SABC3's Top Billing have allegedly not been paid, as scores of production crews, actors and presenters are waiting on their money.

The Independent Producers' Organisation (IPO) representing hundreds of producers and production companies in a statement to TVwithThinus says it is alarmed over the SABC's latest payment failure.

"These payments are generally for work that has already been delivered or is in the process of being made. These payments go towards paying suppliers including actors, directors, technical crew, caterers, equipment suppliers, car hire companies and fuel. These are the people who work 12 hour days to bring some of the country's favourite programmes to life".

"The failure of the SABC to pay not only places the industry in crisis, but also puts thousands of livelihoods, bond and loan repayments, school fees and living expenses at risk. The impact on the many thousands of lives is dire," says the IPO.

The IPO says the dire situation the SABC is once again finding itself in, is negatively affecting "the general industry, including actors and crew".

Tell-tale signs of the current cash-crunch was foreshadowed in October 2016 when the SABC's failure to sign new contracts in time saw Muvhango's executive producer forced to take out a bank loan to try and pay cast and crew while 7de Laan warned actors and crew in a shocking note that they won't be paid.

Later that month the SABC rushed to finally sign new contracts. By delaying signing contracts the SABC was able to keep more money in the bank for longer.

In November 2016, despite a signed contract for a third season that was months into production, the SABC suddenly pulled the plug on SABC3's High Rollers, ordering it off the air within 30 days and suddenly leaving hundreds of crew and actors without jobs.

Meanwhile pressure is mounting as South Africa's treasury and the new minister of communications Ayanda Dlodlo will have to decide what form the possible latest government bail-out of the SABC will take.

Without a massive cash injection within weeks, the cash-strapped SABC's operations will start to seize up from the end of the month.

The SABC's latest plan to make its fruitless and wasteful expenditure look less: 'TV shows bought and not shown in time shouldn't be labelled as wasteful'.

The SABC's latest plan to help lessen the billions of rand lost in fruitless and wasteful expenditure is to "reclassify" the TV content that it had bought and wasted because it didn't broadcast it in time, as not being wasteful.

The beleaguered and loss-making SABC, more than any other South African broadcaster like e.tv and M-Net, ends up buying food for the TV fridge that just sits there, rots and ends up as waste that must be thrown away, not scheduled and consumed in time.

The SABC annually racks up massive content losses in this area on its balance sheet, wasting SABC TV licence payers' money by buying programming it doesn't show before the broadcasting licensing right windows expires.

This happens because the SABC wastes money by buying programming that is inappropriate for the audience and channel demographics, because there’s no space on the SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 schedules – or because the content acquisitions hub and schedulers don't make sure that the TV that's bought is broadcast before the "use by" date.

The SABC keeps failing to properly assess and align the public broadcaster's playout needs in terms of scheduled number of hours with what it ends up buying. The written-off glut of TV programming bought and paid for but that that ends up never being shown, is annually classified as part of fruitless and wasteful expenditure – the same as with all broadcasters.

Now the SABC wants to "reclassify" some of this wasted, bought TV content through no longer seeing it as "fruitless and wasteful".

'They throw in other titles that you don't need'

Although all TV broadcasters – public television services and pay-TV operators – all operate under the same playbook, the SABC's acting CEO, James Aguma now wants to shift the blame for fruitless and wasteful expenditure in terms of some programming costs to content distributors and content sellers.

James Aguma, now blaming TV content distributors and content sellers, is taking the same page as the disgraced former SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane, who also previously told parliament the SABC can't really be held responsible for all of the TV content it acquires and fails to show in time.

James Aguma told parliament's portfolio committee on communications this week that the SABC is busy reworking how the TV content that the public broadcaster buys and ends up wasting – marked as fruitless and wasteful expenditure on its balance sheet – is seen.

James Aguma, an accountant and auditor from Uganda, told parliament that "a lot of fruitless and wasteful expenditure at the SABC arises from two sources. One is writing off content. You go and buy content, lets say 8 titles."

"But your schedule only allows you to broadcast 3 or 4 programmes – and you actually only want four, but they sell you a package. The parlance in broadcasting is you buy the dog and fleas".

"So we're saying if we do not have space to broadcast that because we only have 3 channels, then inevitably you'll find at year-end you have to write-off that. Because the rights that you have are time-based."

"They [international content distributors] are giving you rights to broadcast something. But you know that you only want four titles. Then they throw in other titles that you don't need. And it's take it or leave it unfortunately in the broadcasting industry."

"So you’ll see that we're continuously showing that as fruitless and wasteful expenditure," said James Aguma.

"But we're having a debate at a principal level whether it strictly meets the definition of fruitless and wasteful. Because it an amount that could have been avoided if reasonable steps were put in place."

Take cows and donkeys

"If somebody says: 'I want 4 cows', and he says 'No, take 3 donkeys, buy it as a package' and you say 'No, I want the 4' and he says 'If you want the cows, take the donkeys' then I don't think those 3 strictly meet the definition of fruitless and wasteful," James Aguma told parliament.

"You may not have gotten value, but what could you have done to avoid in that industry to avoid the buying of the dog and fleas so to speak? So we’re going to adjust that note also in conjunction with the Auditor-General (AG)."

Fanny by Gaslight

While the SABC's James Aguma is correct that TV content acquisitions are sometimes "bundled" – premium programme buys come attached with lower-tiered series and movies, other broadcasters worldwide, as well as e.tv and M-Net in South Africa, are much better at managing, scheduling and working away the flotsam with the fantastic so that it doesn't end up as a liability and content write-off.

For every How I Met Your Mother and Anaconda: Hunt for the Blood Orchid on e.tv that the red letter free-to-air broadcaster actually wanted, there's a Fanny by Gaslight scheduled and burnt off in a near-midnight slot.

It's also not just international content. The SABC also runs rougshod over local content that equally contributes to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

In December the SABC for instance abruptly ordered an end to the contract of the weekday local prime time drama series High Rollers on SABC3, produced by Rous House Productions.

With months left on the signed contract of the recently ordered third season, the SABC suddenly wanted High Rollers on SABC3 shut down and off the air, citing "changing programming needs".

With the remainder of the contract that must be paid out whether the public broadcaster has anything to show for it or not, the SABC is wasting and essentially paying money to a production company to not deliver local content – episodes that it ordered and wanted just months ago.

As far back as 2013 dr Ben Ngubane warned that content purchasing decisions at the SABC will no longer be made by one executive.

In the past the SABC several times have sent people not skilled or versed in international programming acquisition – and flying business class – to foreign film festivals and content markets where they signed deals and picked up programming wholly unsuitable for the SABC.

Nominees for the 11th South African Film and Television Awards 2017: Once again odd nominees, head-scratchers and snubs.

The nominees in the various categories for the 11th South African Film and Television Awards 2017 were announced on Thursday morning at The Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg, once again including some odd nominees, head-scratchers and snubs.

The announcement was followed by a panel discussion afterwards where judging chairperson John Kani said the aim is to move the Saftas to a level where it means something.

The Saftas, taking place in March at Sun City this year for the first time, is once again mired in controversy this year for soaps that decided not to enter and were therefore locked out of the Most Popular TV Soap category which is a viewers' vote.

Issues around several other aspects also remain, including questions around the judging, categories and representation.

Nominee head-scratchers include Trevor Gumbi as a nominee for best actor and Bob Mabena as best TV presenter, while people are wondering where the various shows from Connie and Shona Ferguson' Ferguson Films are.

Awkwardly, High Rollers that SABC3 abruptly cancelled and wanted to get rid of has been nominated for several awards in talent and technical categories and is also a nominee in the best TV soap category.

Sarah Graham Food Safari and Jou Ma se Chef are seen as variety shows.

The various nominees also once again show a big disconnect between who and what got nominated and what South African viewers are actually watching (ratings).

And where are the black films - or are South Africa not making any? Happiness is a Four Letter Word got nominated for best hair and make-up and Renate Stuurman for best supporting actress.

As usual - partly through sistemic design, partly through just how the Saftas judging are set up - the real quality content on South African television is not recognised, not visible, and not properly being represented as what's really the best of South African television of the past year.

News programmes as TV reporters are completely excluded from the Saftas - think of the stellar work down during #FeesMustFall and all the other big breaking news and controversies of 2016.

Meanwhile shows and series, specifically local magazine shows in various different genres are not getting the proper respect and inclusion, all lumped together in a badly organised hotchpotch of "magazine" and variety" shows.

The fascinating thing is how the Saftas categories are basically devoid of local shows made for pay-TV in South Africa - programming that has clearly better productions in general with bigger budgets, higher production values, presenter skills and that ends up looking better on screen.

Bob Mabena gets nominated as best TV presenter in a TV awards show system where a Devi Sankaree Govender who exposed Eskom and Iman Rappetti are not.

It stretches credibility that The Man Cave is nominated as part of what was supposedly the best on television in 2016 in South Africa - yet something like great local election coverage is ignored.

Open the time capsule in a century's time, and going by Saftas nominees, someone will have a very skewed perception of what South African television in 2016 supposedly was.

Trashy advertiser-funded productions (AFP) like Coke Studio and Xperia Mashlab - basically long advertisements to market brands - are "best music shows"? But Lip Sync Battle Africa not included?

Besides an overload of English language programming, Afrikaans films almost have a lock on the Saftas film categories. Where are the other 9 South African languages?

Yes, the Venda language Muvhango is boycotting the Saftas, but where are the shows and films in South Africa's other languages? They can't be all that bad not to get any nominations?

The nominees list for the 11th Saftas once again contained spelling mistakes of titles and people's names - amateurish and disrespectful of the TV and film industry it says it serves and looks shoddy. Shephards? Thwala? Really?

Here is a rundown of the various categories and nominees for the 11th Saftas. Several technical categories for directing, production, sound, script writing and others exist as well, but are not listed here:


Best Wildlife programme
Africa's Trees of Life
Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand
Soul of the Elephant

Best documentary feature
Alison
Doc-U-Mentally
Nobody's Died Laughing

Best youth show
100% youth
Craz-e Sistahood
MTV Base meets Bill Gates

Best children's show
Challenge SOS
Disney Cookabout
Silly Seasons - Piece of Cake

Best factual education show
Diamond River Hunters
Now or Never
Ocean Adventurer

Best actuality show
Carte Blanche
Saving Microbabies
Spieners

Best magazine show
50/50
All Access Mzansi
The Man Cave

Best variety show
Expresso
Jou Ma se Chef
Sarah Graham Food Safari I

Best talk show
Real Talk with Anele
Republiek van Zoid Afrika
The Chatroom

Best reality show
Ultimate Braai Master
Vrydag4uur
Weg! Agterpaaie Nimibie

Best game show
Musiek Roulette
Noot vir Noot
Point of Order

Best music show
Coke Studio
Jam Sandwich
Xperia Mashlab

Best international format show
Clash of the Choirs
The Great South African Bake Off I
The Voice South Africa I

Best TV drama
Bloedbroers
Heist I
Sober Companion

Best actress in a TV drama
Tiffany Barbuzano (Sober Companion)
Brenda Ngxoli (Hustle)
Linda Sokhulu (Sokhulu & Partners II)

Best supporting actress in a TV drama
Jana Cilliers (Die Boekklub)
Tina Jaxa (Isikizi I)
Samela Tyelbooi (It's Complicated I)

Best actor in a TV drama
Neels van Jaarsveld (Bloedbroers)
Jerry Mofokeng (Heist I)
Trevor Gumbi (Sober Companion)

Best supporting actor in a TV drama
Chris van Niekerk (Die Boekklub)
Tumisho Masha (Saints & Sinners II)
Warren Masemola (Heist I)

Best TV soap/telenovela
High Rollers
Isibaya
The Road

Best actor in a soap/telenovela
Anthony Coleman (High Rollers)
Justin Strydom (High Rollers)
Siyabonga Twala (Isibaya)

Best actress in a soap/telenovela
Tina Jaxa (Gold Diggers)
Clementine Mosimane (Gold Diggers)
Masasa Mbangeni (Scandal!)

Best supporting actress in a soap/telenovela
Maggie Benedict (Ashes to Ashes II)
Nandi Nyembe (Ashes to Ashes II)
Linda Sebezo (Greed and Desire)

Best supporting actor in a soap/telenovela
Mandla Gaduka (Ashes to Ashes II)
Pallance Dladla (Isibaya)
Warren Masemola (Ring of Lies)

Best TV comedy
Puppet Nation ZANews
Hotel
Those Who Can't

Best actress in a TV comedy
Zola Nombona (Forced Love II)
Hannah Barnard (Puppet Nation ZA News)
Chantal Herman (Those Who Can't)

Best actor in a TV comedy
James Borthwick (Hotel)
Kagiso Lediga (The Bantu Hour)
Grant Swanby (Those Who Can't)

Best supporting actress in a TV comedy
Sylvaine Strike (Those Who Can't)
Kate Normington (Those Who Can't)
Robyn Scott (Those Who Can't)

Best supporting actor in a TV comedy
Deon Lotz (Buurtwag)
Graham Wier (Hotel)
Reabetswe Rangaka (The Mayor)

Best film
Noem My Skollie
Shepherds and Butchers
Sink

Best actor in film
Deon Lotz (Dis Koue Kos, Skat)
Dann Jaques Mouton (Noem My Skollie)
Garion Dowds (Sheperds and Butchers)

Best actress in film
Anel Alexander (Sink)
Shoki Mokgape (Sink)
Christia Visser (Tess)

Best supporting actress in film
Hlubi Mboya (Dora's Peace)
Leleti Khumalo (Free State)
Renate Stuurman (Happiness is a Four Letter Word)

Best supporting actor in film
Grant Swanby (Modder en Bloed)
Abdurahgmaan Adams (Noem My Skollie)
Deon Lotz (Shepherds and Butchers)

Best TV presenter
Tumi Morake (Point of Order)
Siv Ngesi (Man Cave IV)
Bob Mabena (Mzansi Magic music specials)
Katlego Maboe (Expresso)
Chanley Wong (Craz-e Sistahood)
Laurian Nortje (Hectic Nine-9)
Lawrence Maleka (Clash of the Choirs)
Thembisa Mdoda (Our Perfect Wedding)
Maschechaba Ndlovu (The Big Debate VII)

Best TV talk show host
Anele Mdoda (Real Talk with Anele)
Karen Zoid (Republiek van Zoid Afrika)
Bonnie Mbuli (Afternoon Express)

BREAKING. 'Devastation' as SABC finally pulls the plug on SABC3's High Rollers; show loses interdict bid; over 100 workers hear they're out on the street a week before Christmas.

The SABC3 shows High Rollers has lost an urgent court application to try and interdict the SABC from prematurely cancelling the prime time drama series months before its existing contract expires, with the SABC that is directly contributing to, and causing, massive job losses of local artists in South Africa's TV industry.

More than 100 dedicated actors and crew working in South Africa's TV biz on a SABC TV show have been told they're out on the street just a week before Christmas - now all facing not just a very bleak festive period but also a very uncertain 2017.

The show describes the SABC's shock move putting workers on the unemployment line with their families who depend on them, as "devastating" to the High Rollers cast and crew.

In November the SABC shocked viewers and the South African TV industry when it abruptly told High Rollers production company Rous House Productions it wants the local drama series off of SABC3it wants the local drama series off of SABC3 with production that must cease within 30 days.

The SABC said it wanted High Rollers, that it initially launched with big fanfare in April 2013, now immediately gone "because of programming strategy changes on SABC3" - a decision that was slammed as "bisarre" by South Africa's TV industry.

The shocking SABC instruction comes after the broadcaster signed a new third season contract earlier this year for 156 episodes for the fictional Kings Casino set show and also extended the weekly episode broadcast from three to five episodes per week.


Shocking new SABC precedent
The abrupt premature cancellation, with High Rollers having months left on its contract, now sets a shocking new precedent for the South African public broadcaster, with fearful producers of TV content no longer sure that the SABC will honour any existing commitments and contracts.

By shutting down High Rollers, it's the second time in just over two years that the SABC has effectively "fired" the cast of a local production after the striking actors of SABC1's Generations were unceremoniously dumped and the show shut down for months in August 2014 and disappeared from the airwaves after the actors said they were being exploited and demanded better contracts and better and fairer working conditions.

This year the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng said the South African public broadcaster supports local productions and artists, will improve contracts and conditions and will increase local content on SABC3 to 80%.

The harsh reality is that the SABC under Hlaudi Motsoeneng's destructive reign is doing the opposite, and is directly making over a hundred South African actors and crew jobless a week before Christmas - people who thought they had steady work well into 2017.

The SABC said earlier that it is " "not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third parties, including the media".

On Thursday Judge Andrew Louw in the Pretoria High Court dismissed Rous House Productions' urgent court application for an interdict to prevent the canning of High Rollers.

The show also lodged a complaint about the SABC's shocking cancellation of High Rollers with the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), but that case will only be heard in February 2017 at the earliest when production on the show has already ceased and the large ensemble cast and crew let go.

"It is with heavy hearts that Rous House Productions has no choice but to stop production of High Rollers on the last of the 30 business days, 12 January 2017, as stipulated in SABC's cancellation clause and terminate in excess of 100 individuals contracted on High Rollers," the writing and directing executive producer brothers Luke and Joshua Rous tell TVwithThinus.

"We have had an amazing journey with this immensely talented and hard-working cast and crew and are devastated that they no longer have jobs come January 2017," say Luke and Joshua Rous.

"To the fans of High Rollers and the members of our industry who have stood by us, thank you for you for all the support you have given the show over the years and we look forward to entertaining you on other productions in the future".

High Rollers' large ensemble cast includes local stars like Anthony Coleman, Thapelo Mokoena, Terence Bridgett, Hayley Owen, Jai Prakash, Vilje Maritz, Thishiwe Ziqubu and Thishiwe Ziqubu.


Weekly episode play-out trimmed
High Rollers won't be able to jump and be picked up by rival broadcasters like e.tv, M-Net or Mzansi Magic since it's an SABC commissioned show with the Rous producer brothers who struggled for over four and a half years to get the public broadcaster to bite and commission the show.

TVwithThinus has learnt that in February the SABC will cut back on play out schedule of the already produced High Rollers episodes. High Rollers will be reduced from five back to three per week, with the three year old and cancelled international sitcom Whitney scheduled into the prime time timeslot of 19:30 on Thursdays and Fridays.

By Saturday an online petition started four weeks ago to save High Rollers had amassed over a 1 000 signatures and comments from not just viewers but also actors, production crew and people working in South Africa's TV industry, all shocked and outraged at the SABC's callous treatment of local television.

"Isn't it local content we're supposed to be after? So cancel something that's obviously that and doing well?" said a local South African soap star working on another SABC prime time show. "This is where the minister of communications and her self-appointed henchman Hlaudi Motsoeneng are allowed to chop and change as they please".

Nhlanla Ndlovu who works on High Rollers says "So many background artists I book depend on that show to put food on the table, including myself".

Viewer Alexia Staschik said "the SABC is out of control", with Robert Beney saying "the SABC has clearly failed all sane levels of governance. Its decision-making has been compromised by autocratic, non-sensical decision-making".


SABC3 viewership plunge
The viewership for High Rollers fell since May when the SABC introduced a dramatic schedule make-over for SABC3 from a low 645  858 viewers (1.9 AR, 5.6 share) to 540  570 viewers ( 1.6 AR, 4.7 share) in October and 431 963 (1.3 AR, 3.8 share) in November.

The High Rollers ratings depression is however in line with and part of the entire SABC3 schedule's ratings collapse.

SABC3 saw a total viewership implosion since June with the channel's ratings falling month after month since May when Hlaudi Motsoeneng's announced his decision to purge SABC3 of international content and the channel rushed a slew of badly produced local shows into production and onto the schedule that saw viewers flee.


No SABC CEO, COO and CFO by end of December
Parliament's SABC inquiry into the collapse of governance and management at the public broadcaster was shocked when members of parliament were told that the SABC from the end of December will not have an acting CEO or chief financial officer (CFO).

The SABC also doesn't have a COO since Hlaudi Motsoeneng did not return to work this week following a Western Cape High Court ruling on Monday that he shouldn't be employed at the SABC in any position and should undergo an independent disciplinary hearing.

The SABC inquiry heard how the public broadcasting's commissioning process of new local TV content has allegedly been derailed by Hlaudi Motsoeneng with disastrous results for the SABC's finances as well as ratings.

BREAKING. High Rollers local drama on SABC3 going to court seeking an urgent court interdict to prevent premature SABC cancellation.

High Rollers on SABC3 is now seeking an urgent court interdict to prevent the SABC from abruptly cancelling the local prime time TV drama months before its third season contract is supposed to end and that will leave 103 cast and crew suddenly jobless just before Christmas.

Rous House Productions (RHP) producing the casino-set drama series is now taking the SABC to court in a dramatic showdown after an unsuccessful meeting between the production company's executives and the SABC on Monday.

SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng repeatedly this year said how he's boosting and supporting 90% local content and working for better a better work environment and job security for struggling local artists but last month the South African public broadcaster suddenly told the show it will pull the plug within a month just before Christmas.

The SABC said it is "not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third parties, including the media".

SABC3 viewers and the South African TV industry have slammed the SABC for the shortsighted and "bisarre" decision – especially since the SABC renewed the show in May for a third season and increased the episode order from 3 to 5 days per week.

TVwithThinus also learnt that the SABC plans to cull the SABC3 broadcast schedule of High Rollers’ remaining episodes, trimming the show back to only three episodes per week in 2017.

Meanwhile RHP executives – including the writing and directing executive producer brothers Luke and Joshua Rous – have been fighting to save the show and the livelihood of actors and crew who will be out on the street within weeks without intervention.

"RHP has no other choice but to approach the courts with an application for an urgent interdict to stop the SABC from cancelling High Rollers," says Luke and Joshua Rous.

"This application was served on SABC on 7 December and a court date has been set to hear the urgent case within the next week."

"At the same time RHP is submitting an application to the broadcasting regulator, Icasa, to intervene on an urgent basis and set aside the SABC's decision to cancel the High Rollers contract."

Irresponsible SABC decision

"Not only is this the worst possible time of the year for this to happen, but is also in contradiction to SABC's decision to increase local content to 80% on SABC3," says Luke and Joshua Rous.

"RHP feels that the SABC's decision to cancel High Rollers within just 30 business days is in bad faith".

Executive producer Meren Reddy says "This news is devastating to us especially after all the hard work we have put in to increase our output from broadcasting 3 episodes a week to 5 episodes a week only 3 months ago."

Executive producer Luke Rous says "hundreds of people have been affected by this irresponsible and unjust decision."

Executive producer Joshua Rous says "it has been the privilege of a lifetime for us to lead this committed and passionate team, which has formed our High Rollers family. RHP has been overwhelmed by the public support for High Rollers and we appreciate the outpouring of love for the show."

An online petition at change.org entitled "Stop the SABC from Cancelling High Rollers" has so far amassed more than a thousand signatures from the South African public and TV industry.

BREAKING. High Rollers on SABC saved from cancellation - for now - but still getting replaced on SABC3 by ... SABC1's Generations.

I can exclusively break the news and reveal that the SABC drama High Rollers facing the danger of axing has been saved from premature cancellation - from now - but in another new shocker the local drama series will still be yanked from the schedule and replaced in its timeslot on SABC3 from January by SABC1's Generations suddenly flipping channels.

TVwithThinus can reveal that the SABC has now suddenly put its decision to can High Rollers - described as "bizarre" by the South African TV industry - on hold.

The SABC backpedaling on its decision to abruptly remove High Rollers from the SABC3 and to just possibly pay out the show to go away, follows a massive public outcry from viewers last week, slamming the SABC over its decision to cancel High Rollers months before its third season contract is supposed to end.

The SABC's decision to rid its schedule of the casino-set local drama series - putting cast and crew out of work and income just before Christmas, comes after SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng said multiple times this year that the SABC supports local content and wants more local content on SABC3.

The decision to do away with High Rollers led to widespread shock and condemnation directed at the SABC by the South African TV industry at large, including producers and actors saying the SABC is only doing lip service when it comes to ensuring bigger work security and better employment stability for artists working in local TV production.

An online petition, started last week to try and save High Rollers on SABC3 and still amassing signatures and comments from very vocal South African viewers as well as people working in and watching television worldwide, seems to have done the trick in staving off the cancellation decision for now.

While the SABC is for now not going through with its decision to cancel High Rollers, it is making another shocking move: removing High Rollers from the SABC3 schedule and replacing it with SABC1's Generations from mid-January in its timeslot.

According to sources speaking on condition of anonymity to TVwithThinus, "the SABC has agreed to put a moratorium on the cancellation until they meet with the production company".

According to insiders, this meeting between Rous House Productions is set for sometime next week. "So everyone waits now," a person familiar with the matter told me.

Rous House Productions has so far not spoken publicly after the shocking revelation that the SABC planned to can High Rollers within 30 business days although there's months left on the contract because of "programming strategy changes on SABC3".

The SABC, asked about the High Rollers brouhaha, said last week that "the SABC is not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third parties including the media".


Another shocking twist
In another shocking twist, TVwithThinus can reveal that High Rollers will disappear from the SABC3 schedule from Monday 16 January when it will be replaced by SABC1's Generations on a daily basis at 19:30.

The SABC plans 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) soccer coverage on SABC1 from 16 January 2017 daily from 17:30 until midnight, and has to move Generations.

Oddly, the SABC plans to move Generations - its second biggest show in terms of viewership and a massive ad income generator for the public broadcaster - not to SABC2 but to its smallest TV channel.

The SABC recently made the same unprecedented move.

In October, and again in November, it moved Generations from SABC1 to SABC3 pre-empting High Rollers - the first time in the history of the SABC that it replaced one locally produced SABC TV soap with another of its locally produced TV soaps due to sport.

The triple-whammy result of the SABC move in January 2017 will firstly mean that High Rollers' dedicated daily demo audience on SABC3 will abandon the timeslot and "kick the habit" so to speak to tune in to the show - a daily prime time drama that cultivates habitual viewing and depends on an audience, following an unfolding narrative returning the next day to see more of the story.

When and if High Rollers returns to the SABC3 schedule, its falling viewership - as with most of SABC3's sagging audience ratings over the past few months - will very likely be down even more, with the show that will have to start over in trying to lure its dedicated viewer base back.

Secondly the move will mean that millions of SABC viewers won't be able to see Generations at all during prime time, since SABC3's terrestrial TV channel footprint is the smallest of the SABC's channels. The smallest number of South African TV households are able to receive the channel.

Thirdly the expected loss in viewers for SABC1, people not sticking around since there's no Generations and not wanting to watch African soccer broadcasts that will also be carrying a lesser ad load, will mean less ad income for the SABC1 during January for the cash-strapped broadcaster.

Is the SABC's cancelled High Rollers on SABC3 going to jump to a rival broadcaster like e.tv or M-Net after its 'bizarre' dumping?

Viewers are saying they will follow High Rollers, that the SABC wants to dump prematurely before the end of its third season contract, to e.tv or M-Net – a possible move that will further weakening the ratings challenged SABC3 should a rival broadcaster take over the prime time local drama series.

The South African TV production industry, viewers and artists are shocked at the SABC's bizarre decision to can the casino-set local drama series from Rous House Productions months before it's supposed to end.

The SABC's shock cancellation puts the cast and crew of High Rollers out of work just before Christmas.

The South African public broadcaster's shocking move comes despite SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng repeatedly doing lip-service in 2016 that the the SABC values local content, is upping the local content quota for SABC3 to 80%, and that he is spearheading the charge for greater job security as well as better and longer contracts for struggling local actors and artists.

An online petition (found here) started to save High Rollers from SABC cancellation keeps adding signatures and a flurry of comments from angry viewers, upset artists and production workers across South Africa, slamming the SABC for its shortsighted and the as yet unexplained move.

Insiders are now saying that the SABC is allegedly readying a massive pay-out for the remainder of High Rollers’ contract that would have stretched well into 2017.

It means that the SABC will be paying out and wasting a large amount of money, not getting local content in return for it, and paying to not show a local series it signed a contract for and now wants off the SABC3 schedule prematurely.

In May the SABC renewed High Rollers for a third season of 156 episodes and extended it from three to five episodes per week but now wants it gone.

The SABC, asked about its plan to cancel High Rollers cancellation, said "the SABC is not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third parties including the media".

The Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) that says it represents, protects and promotes the interests and needs of producers, declined to comment when asked and didn't publicly want to voice support for the High Rollers production.

The South African Screen Federation (Sasfed) says the SABC's move wanting to cancel a contract prematurely "establishes a very dangerous precedent".

The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) says the High Rollers cancellation will have a "profoundly negative impact on the production company and the 103 members of cast and crew" and that SAGA is deeply concerned that the SABC is willing to cancel production contracts before their scheduled prescription.

Part of bigger SABC content devastation

The broad-based public pressure group SOS Coalition, fighting for better public broadcasting in South Africa, told TVwithThinus on Thursday that "it's very unclear, much like most things SABC,under what circumstances the contract is being prematurely terminated".

"However, in light of the radical and continued decline of SABC3's audience share, it appears that the may be linked to the devastation that the entirely unplanned for 90% local content directive issued by Hlaudi Motsoeneng has wreaked on the SABC's TV and radio offerings generally, and SABC3 specifically".

"Ours is not a position against high local content thresholds across the full range of offerings on the SABC," says the SOS Coalition, "but about sound planning, the shaping of a strong business case for all content produced for and by the SABC,to ensure that the organisation remains viable and sustainable in what is becoming an increasingly hostile industry".

"Unfortunately, in light of the arbitrary decision-making at the highest levels, purging of skilled staff, the unlawful writing off of the commissioning protocol and seeming award of commissions to pals, it doesn’t appear as though there is much leadership in the SABC at a point where it is needing it more than ever," says the SOS Coalition.

New lease on TV life elsewhere?

If the SABC goes through with abruptly removing High Rollers within the next month from the SABC3 schedule, the possibility exists that the show could jump to rival broadcasters like e.tv or M-Net in 2017.

Producer brothers Luke and Josh Rous struggled for four and a half years to finally get their well-received show accepted by the SABC but with the public broadcaster that doesn't want it anymore, e.tv or M-Net could possibly take it over.

M-Net has broadcast similar type shows to High Rollers in the past – like the drama series Jacob’s Cross that's been seen on both the SABC and M-Net.

High Rollers would also be a local drama take-over coup for e.tv that's been steadily investing in more glitzy dramas with high-end production values that would make sense for its own schedule.

"High Rollers is a great production," said outraged viewer Sphesihle Khumalo. "Please do not take away South African content that we can actually relate to and enjoy".

"I will actually consider cancelling my SABC TV licence if this show is removed," said Rianette Cluley. "It's one of the few good local offerings. Hope e.tv snatches if up if it is cancelled".

"If the SABC goes through with this, I hope it is picked up by e.tv" said Michael Harris.

"This is the only decent show left on SABC3 after Days of Our Lives was taken off," said Penny Kemertgoglou. "If the show is cancelled, I will never watch SABC3 again. Neither will I pay my TV licence”.

TV biz aghast over SABC's dumping of local drama series High Rollers, sharply criticises SABC for 'bizarre' cancellation decision.

South Africas TV industry is reacting with shock over the SABC's abrupt decision to suddenly cancel local drama series High Rollers before its contract ends with insiders now saying the SABC is readying a pay-off pay-out for the production – ironically wasting millions of rand not to air a local show.

Shock and outrage is growing within South Africa's TV industry over the way the SABC plans to suddenly axe High Rollers on SABC3 within a month. 

Ironically the SABC renewed the casino-set local drama in May for a third season and increased the episode order of 156 episodes from three to five episodes per week.

According to production sources not directly connected to the show but dealing with the SABC, the South African public broadcaster is now allegedly planning to pay out Rous House Productions fully for the remainder of their contract, "so four months' salary for cast and crew".

If true, it means that the SABC will essentially be spending a vast amount of money for nothing in return just to not broadcast a local show it commissioned and had renewed twice.

Rouse House Productions didn't respond to a media enquiry asking about the cancellation and the newly surfaced pay-out rumours swirling, and the SABC told TVwithThinus earlier that "the SABC is not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses and content providers with third parties including the media".

Following viewers' outrage and an online petition against the SABC's shock High Rollers’ cancellation where signatures and support keeps growing, as well as scorn from South African actors hammering the public broadcaster over its decision, representative TV industry bodies are also slamming the SABC over the "bizarre" cancellation decision.

"This unilateral decision made by the broadcaster has to be challenged, there is simply too much at stake not only for the countless crew members and the company in question, but also the wider industry, this establishes a very dangerous precedent," the South African Screen Federation (Sasfed) told TVwithThinus in a statement.

"Any going business concern has to have a degree of predictability to be able to plan and survive, with our major broadcaster not willing to honour legally binding contracts, such contracts become meaningless adversely affecting our emerging industry".

SABC’s bizarre decision criticised

The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) told TVwithThinus High Rollers’ cancellation "will have a profoundly negative impact on the production company and the 103 members of cast and crew".

"Many actors on the show, including SAGA members, have given up other possible earning opportunities in order to commit their time to High Rollers. Having the rug pulled out from under their feet like this means they will face the prospect of a very bleak Christmas."

"SAGA is deeply concerned that if the SABC is willing to cancel production contracts before their scheduled prescription, then nothing prevents the broadcaster cancelling other existing production contracts at an even greater expense to the taxpayer."

"The impact of this cancellation will therefore be felt throughout the industry and will add to speculation that responsible and competent leadership at the state broadcaster has been compromised at its highest levels."

SAGA says "the decision to cancel High Rollers which has earned a loyal following on SABC3, seems quite bizarre.  In announcing their intention to cancel the show, the SABC has demonstrated a reversal of its own much-publicised commitment to developing local content."

'Money thrown out the window'

A longtime producer working on shows for the SABC and other broadcasters, told TVwithThinus that "while in America contracts specifically feature the right to cancellation at specific stages if the ARs (audience ratings) of a show are not adequate, I have never seen such a clause in a SABC contract".

"As such, unless the producers are specifically in breach of elements of their contract, the SABC has no right to terminate the production. And even if there is a ratings clause which permits cancellation, one wonders why the same is not happening to Hlaudi Motsoeneng's crap commissions."

"If High Rollers is cancelled now, the SABC will have to pay for all work done and contracted until the final day of the notice period, which will be more money thrown out of the window as the SABC will never be able to use or air any of that work," said the veteran producer.

While the ratings for High Rollers has fallen since May when Hlaudi Motsoeneng abruptly ordered a quota of 80% local content for the channel – a plan that flopped – the viewership decrease for the show is in line with the entire SABC3 viewership that keeps spiralling down month after month since the introduction of the new crop of local shows that all failed to attract viewers.