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."

M-Net has neither cancelled nor renewed The Bomb Shelter telenovela Isibaya on Mzansi Magic yet.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Isibaya telenovela on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel has neither been cancelled nor renewed for a 9th season, M-Net tells TVwithThinus.

Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter, is currently in its 8th season on the Mzansi Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Rumours started swirling that M-Net has cancelled Isibaya because of low-ratings. 

However, the truth is that MultiChoice doesn't cancel or renew shows based on ratings since viewership alone matter much less - although it does play somewhat of a role - on pay-TV channels.

Free-to-air channels are dependent on TV commercials with the price of adverts determined by the size of the viewership. 

On a pay-TV channel like Mzansi Magic, retaining the subscriber from month to month is what matters since the pay-TV service gets a monthly subscriber fee as the main source of income, irrespective of whether a subscriber watches a specific show on a specific TV channel or not.

Isibaya lured 726 847 viewers in September as the 7th most-watched show on DStv.

"Every year before we recommission the great shows that are broadcast on Mzansi Magic, we conduct a review of all shows, using a variety of metrics as standard practice in the industry, to ensure the decision to renew contacts is well informed, Nomsa Philiso, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry.

"The review is not exclusive to Isibaya and an announcement will be made in due course."

Coronavirus: Isibaya, Muvhango, SABC, Newzroom Afrika and eNCA impacted by more Covid-19 cases.

by Thinus Ferreira

SABC2's Muvhango and Mzansi Magic's Isibaya have been impacted by more Covid-19 cases, with the eNCA reporter Dasen Thathiah who has now also tested positive, Newzroom Afrika that has more Covid-19 staffers, while the SABC's Durban office also shut for a deep-clean because of more coronavirus cases.

South Africa's film and TV industry - including the country's TV news channels - that has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 national lockdown and haltingly emerged to restart production, continues to battle with ongoing positive on-set Covid-19 cases that force studios and sets across the country to close.

The latest TV production that was forced to shut down is Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter after Abdul Khoza and Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

On Instagram, Abdul Khoza wrote that he has "tested positive for Covid-19, but I'm already quarantining at home and taking all my medication. So far I feel fine and have only experienced mild symptoms".

On Instagram, Enhle wrote that "I also tested positive for Covid-19 as careful as I am" and that "I was pretty sure my chest would give in. I gave myself permission to heal and also to ask for help".

Nomsa Philiso, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net, in response to a media enquiry told TVwithThinus that "Mzansi Magic can confirm that the set of Isibaya was temporarily shut down last week after Abdul Khoza announced through his social media platform that he is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19".

"The channel has been in close contact with Bomb Shelter, the production company that produces the telenovela, and in-line with the stringent safety protocol in place, the set was decontaminated and those that came into contact with him have been referred for testing."

"What is important at this stage is the health and safety of all the members of the production and we would like to wish Abdul a speedy recovery and his colleagues well during this difficult time".

The SABC is deep-cleaning its Durban office after two more staffers on Sunday tested positive for Covid-19 with one working in TV editing and the other for the Ukhozi radio station in current affairs.

"The SABC can confirm that we have two new cases of Covid-19 in our Durban office. The SABC followed and adhered to the department of health and WHO directives," says Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson in a statement.

"All affected employees are in self-isolation and the affected working areas have been decontaminated."

Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) that has seen further positive Covid-19 cases at the Linden-based TV news channel in Johannesburg says in response to a media enquiry that "Our number one priority is the well-being of our employees".

"Every measure has been taken within our building to make sure that we are fully compliant with the regulations and safety precautions set out by the department of health as well as the NICD. Our affected colleagues are under quarantine and are healing".

The eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Dasen Thathiah based in Durban revealed that he is the latest journalist at the eMedia Investments' TV news channel who has also tested positive for Covid-19.

"I've tested positive for Covid-19. I have had most of the listed symptoms in the past few days but I'm resting and medicating at home as necessary. Take extra precautions, particularly as we approach the peak. I'll be back soon." eNCA didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment.

The musician Kabelo Mabelane revealed on social that he has tested Covid-19 positive along with his wife, Gail Mabalane, who was most recently seen in Netflix's Blood & Water series.

SABC2's Venda weekday primetime soap Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth Productions, keeps registering more positive Covid-19 cast and crew cases, where another 10 people have tested positive for the virus. The production plans to resume filming on Thursday, 16 July, with the cast and crew who have not tested positive for Covid-19.

Coronavirus: M-Net local soaps The River, Gomora and Isibaya will roll out new episodes from Monday 25 May on 1Magic and Mzansi Magic as their stream-viewing numbers on DStv Catch Up and DStv Now surge during March and April.

by Thinus Ferreira

More local South African primetime soaps that ran out of available episodes are set to return with the pay-TV drama series The River, Gomora and Isibaya that will all show new episodes on MultiChoice's DStv from this coming Monday 25 May.

All three M-Net commissioned series went off the air two weeks ago due to the weeks-long production break that saw all South Africa's TV shows shutter and studios lock their gates because of the Covid-19 national lockdown period to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

While broadcasters and pay-TV schedulers had some stocked episodes in the kitty it wasn't enough and eventually left DStv subscribers with hastily padded schedules on 1Magic (DStv 103) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), while on public television SABC1's Uzalo produced by Stained Glass TV also ran out of episodes.

All of these and the country's other locally-produced soaps on the SABC, e.tv and DStv have since returned to studio lots for filming but Uzalo done from Durban will only broadcast new episodes from 15 June on SABC1.

M-Net's general entertainment division told TVwithThinus on Tuesday that The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures will be back with new episodes from Monday 25 May on M-Net's 1Magic channel.

Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter and Gomora, produced by Seriti Films, which are both shown on M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel, will also be back with new episodes from 25 May, said publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi.


Stream-viewing surge on DStv Catch Up and DStv Now
All of the shows - Uzalo, Gomora, The River and Isibaya - along with multiple others have seen their TV ratings surge in March and April in record viewership increases across the board for the SABC, e.tv and DStv as viewers stuck at home and with an end to Eskom loadshedding have flocked to their screens.

Besides just linear TV ratings these series have also showed remarkable growth in delayed viewing done through DStv decoders and stream viewing through MultiChoice's DStv Now video-on-demand service.

In March the top 5 DStv Catch Up shows watched as delayed viewing through DStv decoders had Mzansi Magic taking the top 4 spots with local content with The Queen at number one with 512 000 average views, Isibaya with 458 000 average views, Mnakwethu with 448 000 average views, Kwa Mam'Mkhize with 415 000 average views and the American procedural drama series 9-1-1 on M-Net (DStv 101) in the 5th place with 340 000 average views.

In April this surged with The Queen climbing to 526 000 average views in delayed viewing on DStv Catch Up through DStv decoders, Gomora rushing to second place with 478 000 average views, Madam & Mercy jumping to the 3rd spot with  396 000 average views, Lockdown in 4th place with 370 000 average views, and Mnakwethu at 364 000 average views.

Meanwhile M-Net's second season of The Bachelor South Africa with Marc Buchner, produced by Rapid Blue has been punching far above its weight.

Although on the top bouquet tier of DStv Premium, limiting access to the majority of DStv subscribers, The Bachelor SA was the 4th most stream-watched show on DStv Now during March with 63 000 average viewers. The others were The Queen in top position (88 000 views), followed by Isibaya (83 000 views) and Mnakwethu (62 000) all on Mzansi Magic, and The River (60 000 views) on 1Magic.

In April DStv Now stream-viewing surged as Gomora (98 000 views) climbed to first place as the most-viewed show, followed by The River (92 000 views), The Queen (80 000 views), The Bachelor (77 000 views) and Isibaya (69 000 views).

Coronavirus: The River and South African television's well of stockpiled new episodes of the most-watched prime time soaps will start to run out from Friday 24 April.

by Thinus Ferreira

The well of stockpiled television episodes of South Africa's most-watched prime time soaps will start to run dry from Friday.

Both public and pay-TV channels will begin to run out of available new episodes for the highest-rated shows in the country over the next couple of days and weeks because of the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus national lockdown. 

With the national shutdown in effect in South Africa that has been extended by further weeks to try and curb the spread of Covid-19, the broadcaster pantry will start to run dry from tomorrow.

That will be followed over the next few days and weeks by a cascading effect of programming changes across channels as broadcasters and pay-TV services from MultiChoice to the SABC are forced to pad their schedules with different content as new pre-recorded, locally-produced shows run out of episodes.

With the country marking record TV ratings gains during day time and prime time for South African television as families - including parents and kids - remain cloistered at home, it remains to be seen whether the massive viewership surge will hold once broadcasters are forced to schedule repeats and content viewers have already seen.

On Friday 24 April the M-Net-run channel Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) will broadcast the last new episodes of Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter and the new telenovela Gomora produced by Seriti TV that have both now run out of stockpiled episodes. 

M-Net schedulers are replacing these two hours on Mzansi Magic with double episodes at 19:00 of the first season of The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, from Monday 27 April.

Both are two of the most-watched shows on pay-TV with Gomora that lured up to 1.7 million viewers in March and Isibaya 1.003 million viewers, together with The Queen from Ferguson Films that also shut down in March that was the most-watched show on DStv last month with 2.2 million viewers.

The Queen will screen the last episode of the current season at the end of the second week of May.

While first season episodes of The River is now shown on Mzansi Magic, the telenovela that is actually in its third season with first-run episodes on the other M-Net channel, 1Magic (DStv 103), is also running out of episodes. 

The River that lured 1.165 million pay-TV subscribers in March to DStv will end on 8 May, replaced by Is'thunzi, produced by Rapid Blue.

The River has also been on a hiatus and production break because of the Covid-19 lockdown with no fourth season that has been confirmed says M-Net.

The Somizi & Mohale: The Union wedding reality limited series, produced by The BarLeader, that was exclusively produced for MultiChoice's streaming service Showmax will now pad the linear TV schedule and unspool on Mzansi Magic from 27 April at 20:00.

Similar to what international broadcasters are now doing, the M-Net programming team is also working to pad the Mzansi Magic schedule with repeat blocks of popular reality shows like Date My Family and Our Perfect Wedding, both produced by Connect TV. Both series about family dates and reality weddings continue to draw huge audiences.

On 1 May the Real Housewives of Johannesburg, produced by RHOSA Productions, will start on Mzansi Magic for 14 episodes until 20 May with season 1 of Madam & Mercy taking over after that. 

"As M-Net local entertainment channels, we pride ourselves on our authentic local content and this lockdown period provides us with the perfect opportunity to share this. Viewers now have time to catch up on their favourite shows and we are excited to keep them entertained with a double dose of a drama series that has received recognition on the global stage," says Nomsa Philiso, director of M-Net local entertainment channels.

"M-Net continues to enjoy healthy relations with our content suppliers and we are all working together to ensure that our customers don't miss out on a single moment of excellent entertainment, even when production has to take a break."

"With these changes to our line-up and a host of award-winning shows, viewers can still enjoy a riveting line-up of great entertainment to make staying at home more bearable." 

SA's most-watched show out of new episodes on 8 May

On South Africa's public broadcaster, the country's most-watched prime time series, Uzalo on weekdays at 20:30 that lured over 10.29 million viewers in March will broadcast it's last new episode two weeks from now on 8 May on SABC1.

From 11 May the SABC will have to switch to repeats of old Uzalo episodes for at least a week.

The Durban-based production company Stained Glass TV remains shuttered along with others and can only resume production once the national lockdown is lifted.

"The lockdown has put production under immense 'post lockdown' pressure,' Stained Glass TV tells TViwithThinus in response to a media enquiry. 

"Pre-recorded episodes will be on-air up until 8 May, thereafter viewers should expect episode reruns while the production works determinedly to deliver more episodes per week and catch up with our delivery schedule."

"Viewers can anticipate new and exciting episodes from Monday 18 May," says the show.

This is all however contingent on production companies being allowed to open the studio doors after 30 April if the national lockdown is lifted and lifted and in heavily-affected provinces like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

On e.tv the free-to-air commercial broadcaster still has enough stockpiled episodes of both of its local weekday soaps - Rhythm City, produced by Quizzical Pictures and Scandal! produced by Ochre Moving Pictures - as well as telenovela Imbewu done from KwaZulu-Natal by Grapevine Productions for now to stave off repeat broadcasts during prime time.

SABC2's 7de Laan, produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, currently has enough new half-hours stockpiled to last until 25 May.

Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that the public broadcaster has a sufficient TV soap content, will communicate when soaps run out of episodes and switch to repeats, and is in contact with production companies.

"The organisation has a sufficient soapie content offering to cover the duration of the lockdown period. The organisation has also ensured that, as part of its efforts to build resilience in its broadcasting environment, there are measures in place to ensure business continuity during this period and in the event of further extensions."

"Should future repeats of popular soaps be required, this will be communicated to the public."

"The SABC remains committed to continue to provide an essential service of broadcasting to the millions of South Africans, who rely solely on the corporation for information, education and entertainment."

As the South African taxi-drama Isibaya on DStv's Mzansi Magic speeds along, so does MultiChoice in expanding the local production industry in the country as well as across Africa.

Set against the backdrop of South Africa's local taxi industry, it's not just the story inside its prime time soap Isibaya on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) that is speedings along at a rapid pace - it's MultiChoice itself as well, with the pay-TV operator that is ramping up and expanding the scope of its local production capacity and local TV storytelling.

Listed since the end of February, the MultiChoice Group that is facing ever-increasing competition from global video streaming services and other broadcasters for its DStv, GOtv and Showmax pay-TV brands in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, is charging full-steam ahead with established local, homegrown shows like Isibaya in South Africa, as well as looking to commission even more locally produced series in Kenya in East Africa and Nigeria in West Africa.

While for viewers watching Isibaya it'sall about  drama and entertainment, for MultiChoice it's about business - remaining relevant in a rapidly changing video entertainment market while growing and expanding the local entertainment and TV industry while investing in more new voices.

While DStv subscribers watch international drama series like HBO's Game of Thrones on M-Net (DStv 101) - an American series that was predominantly filmed in Ireland that meant thousands of new job opportunities and a massive capital injection in Ireland's film and TV industry - MultiChoice is hard at work at trying to do the same for South Africa and the African continent.

A show like Isibaya is brought to life every day by literally hundreds of people besides just the actors and who are working behind-the-scenes; people who work behind the lens but who are part of building South Africa's vibrant and expanding TV biz.

"I am a storyteller and I want the audience to feel what I am feeling whilst they are watching our show," says Menzi Ngubane, who appears in Isibaya in the role of Judas. "I want them to feel the raw emotion and be engulphed in the entertainment that we are bringing into their homes".

Sayitsheni Mdakhi plays Saddam in Isibaya produced by The Bomb Shelter. He landed his first starring role in 2016 and today is working as a writer and a producer in the South African entertainment industry.

"The entertainment industry is evolving and customers are changing what they watch, when they watch it and how they watch it. It is up to us, as actors, to notice changes in viewing behaviour and bring the best TV to viewers' lounge," he says.

The Isiyaba cast and crew say their aim is to convey the realities and passions of modern-day South African viewers - balancing escapism and realism in the story that they produce and bring into the lives of ordinary South Africans, whilst providing riveting entertainment.

"We are committed to creating these platforms for storytelling and to making opportunities available for more actors and a wider audience as increased local content is a key driver of increased viewership," says Yolisa Phahle, the head of general entertainment for the MultiChoice Group.

"We have invested substantially into locally-produced content and understand that economic times are tough in South Africa, and that our customers are under pressure to make every cent they spend count".

"That's why we're making every effort to ensure DStv remains as affordable and accessible and our viewers get the best entertainment experience – the best local stories through series and movies," she says.

MultiChoice through its set of M-Net and SuperSport channels produces over 4 500 hours of local content per year, working with local production companies in South Africa and across the African continent, using production companies, production facilities and 10 studios across Africa stretching from Cape Town in South Africa to Lagos in Nigeria where the upcoming new season of Big Brother Naija will be filmed.

"As actors and being a part of an award-winning show, re-energizes everyone to want to do more and perform better and excel further than we thought possible," says Abdul Khoza, another of the Isibaya actors.

"This is one of the biggest sets that we have in South Africa and one of the best productions in Africa".

MultiChoice now has over 40 000 hours of local content in its library and spends over R2.5 billion on local productions per year. 

RATINGS DECEMBER 2016: How the SABC scored with The Virgin Vegan on SABC1; while SABC3 continues to slide and Date My Family delights on DStv.

Despite the lack of any marketing or publicity from the SABC, an amazing thing happened in December when three local short films about young black women by young black female filmmakers, scheduled and broadcast on SABC1, managed to make a huge splash in the month's South African TV ratings race.

Without any promotion to the press and audiences by the SABC, The Virgin Vegan, The Groom's Price and Guns and Petals not only lured viewers - it lured massive audiences and kept them transfixed.

Despite a barrage of unending bad news about the South African public broadcaster, the films - part of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and Blingola's Female Filmmaker Project - represented a sliver of hope of what a good public broadcaster like the SABC can and should be: showcasing new local content, from emerging talent that's supported, and that's also watched in large numbers by viewers.

The three films each drew millions of viewers and took top spots on SABC1's most watched programming list for the month of December 2016.

Elsewhere SABC2 and SABC3 continue to face ratings problems, while e.tv remains stable. Meanwhile Mzansi Magic's Date My Family, Our Perfect Wedding and Isibaya continue to delight DStv audiences.

Here's the noteworthy other TV ratings news for South Africa's broadcasters for December 2016:


SABC1
Uzalo with 8.4 million viewers (24.7 AR, 66.5 share) that remained the most watched show on SABC1 and in South Africa in December, continued to pull further away from 2nd place Generations and its 8.3 million viewers (24.5 AR, 68.5 share), adding 286 502 viewers from November.

Uzalo will switch from three to five episodes per week from February.

In December Skeem Saam retained its 3rd rated place on the SABC1 schedule but dropped slightly from 6.2 million viewers (18.2 AR) to 5.9 million (17.5 AR).

The Xhosa news fell from 3.8 million viewers (11.1 AR) to 3.5 million (10.3 AR), while the Zulu TV news bulletin showed marginal growth from 3.75 million (11 AR) to 3.94 million viewers (11.6 AR).

Viewership drop-offs - not unusual for December - were experienced by Tempy Pushas (down to 4.29 million, 12.6 AR), Zaziwa (3.12 million, 9.2 AR), Live AMP (3.04 million, 8.9 AR) and Selimathunzi (3.22 million, 9.4 AR), while local sitcom Him, Her and the Guys showed strong audience growth from 3.09 million (9.1 AR) to 3.37 million viewers (9.9 AR) in December compared to the previous month.

Something fascinating happened in December: SABC1 acquired, scheduled and showed new local films by young black female filmmakers - about young black women - and got rewarded by stellar audiences.

The short film The Virgin Vegan by Reabetswe Moeti clocked an astounding 5.11 million viewers (15 AR) in December despite zero publicity by SABC1, making it the 4th most watched programme on SABC1, and the 5th most watched programme on all of SA television for the month.

The same happened with The Groom's Price: An astounding 4.67 million viewers (13.7 AR) watched Mmabatho Montsho's film about a woman trying to pay lobola for her man. It gave the film the 5th most watched position on SABC1 for December, and made it the 8th most watched piece of television in all of South Africa for the month.

The local short film Guns and Petals from Mbali Kgosidintsi - like The Virgin Vegan and The Groom's Price part of the NFVF/Blingola Female Filmmaker Project - drew an impressive 4.11 million viewers (12.1 AR): the 10th spot on SABC1 for the month and 13th most watched on all of SA TV.

A Fidel Castro documentary on SABC1 in December lured 2.82 million viewers - more than anything shown on SABC3 and only 4 programmes on SABC2 getting more viewers.


SABC2

In December Muvhango remained the top draw on SABC2 with 6.25 million viewers (18.3 AR). When the Venda soap is on, two out of every three TV sets in South Africa that's on, was tuned to this show.

While the Afrikaans soap 7de Laan continued to struggle in the ratings in December due to a bad timeslot change earlier in 2016 (its highest episode for the month clocked only 1.65 million viewers, 4.8 AR - far off from its erstwhile ratings glory), there was one bit of sunshine.

A 3-minute 7de Laan: Behind the Scenes special on 20 December drew an astounding 3.75 million viewers (11 AR), the 3rd most watched thing on SABC2 for the month.

Consumer magazine show Speak Out continues to perform well with 3.14 million viewers (9.2 AR), up from November, while SABC2's local new telenovela Keeping Score ticked up slightly to 2.49 million viewers (7.3 AR).

The SABC's Afrikaans TV news bulletin at 19:30 also continues to struggle after it was moved to a bad timeslot. Having fallen out of favour, it remained flat in December with a paltry 1.31 million viewers (3.9 AR).

Also moved, the SABC's Sotho/Setswana news bulletin struggles even more. For the second month in a row in December it didn't even make SABC2's list of top 20 most watched shows.


SABC3

The unmitigated disaster that's SABC3 and the channel's downward ratings spiral continues unabated with December that once again, showed further viewership erosion.

Every month, since the disastrous introduction of a unilateral 80% local content decree by SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng in July 2016, has seen the dam level of SABC3's viewership drop and December continued the trend as more of the few viewers left, continue to flee.

American soap The Bold and the Beautiful, the high-water mark of SABC3's schedule as its most watched show, once again fell lower in December. The canary on the TV coal mine slumped to just 889 585 viewers (2.6 AR) - down from 2.8 AR, 2.9 AR, 3.4 AR and 3.8 AR in the previous months.

The tragic ratings slump is mirrored by the struggling Endemol Shine Africa locally produced soap Isidingo. In December it once again fell further to 855 378 viewers (2.5 AR) for its most watched episode in the month, further down from previous months' 3 AR, 2.9 AR and 3.3 AR.

High Rollers that the SABC abruptly decided to cancel although Rous House Productions had a contract for a longer third season ironically showed an uptick in December from 431 963 (1.3 AR) to 469 998 (1.4 AR) viewers.

The SABC's flagship TV news bulletin, the English news at 18:30 showed a small uptick after shedding 222 417 viewers in November alone. It recovered slightly from 699 735 to 672 348 viewers (flat on an unchanged 2 AR) in December.

Despite the SABC's attempts to foist bad local content onto audiences, viewers only tuned in to the channel for the South Africa vs Sri Lanka cricket and Christmas movies. Cricket matches and 11 American Christmas films took 15 out of the top 20 most watched spots on SABC's December line-up.


e.tv
While the bottom-end of e.tv's programming sags, there's no problem right at the top. Hit-soap Scandal! climbed from 4.35 million (12.7 AR) to 4.86 million viewers (14.2 AR) in December, while 2nd runner Rhythm City was down slightly from 3.15 million to 3.1 million viewers.

As a stable terrestrial broadcaster, e.tv's most-watched list of shows in December had a nice spread of local films like Yesterday (2.4 million viewers, 7.1 AR) and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2.1 million viewers, 6.2 AR) luring viewers, as well as its local drama Heist (1.86 million viewers, 5.5 AR).

While the SABC's commercial relationships with international content distributors continue to falter and atrophy, the strengthened relationships between the eMedia Investments' channel and Hollywood's biggest studios and distributors are yielding more and more dividends.

From Disney sitcom Blackish (1.6 million viewers, 4.9 AR) to Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (1.7 million viewers, 5 AR) rounded out e.tv's top 20 list in December.

Together with WWE wrestling, the two new Jump Street films and some Christmas movies, e.tv continues to have the most well-rounded and balanced broadcasting schedule of all of South Africa's free-to-air channels when it comes to local and international content.

DStv
The most watched show on MultiChoice's pay-TV platform in December remained Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) soap Isibaya, up from November's 1.12 million to 1.15 million viewers for its most watched episode in the month.

Our Perfect Wedding, also on Mzansi Magic, retained its 2nd spot at 1.01 million viewers (3 AR) for its most watched episode, with each of the four Sundays in the month meaning appointment viewing for the show and cracking DStv's list of top 30 most watched programmes in December.

The can't-look-away Date My Family, also on Mzansi Magic, came in third in December with 682 382 viewers (2 AR).

Actor Andile Gumbi of Mzansi Magic soap isiBaya arrested and jailed for assault after allegedly hitting his wife and dragging her on the floor.

Actor Andile Gumbi of the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel's soap isiBaya was arrested and jailed for assault after allegedly hitting his wife.

In the latest case highlighting South Africa's ongoing scourge of violence against women, Andile Gumbi was arrested and charged with assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm after he allegedly attacked and punched his wife and dragged her on the floor.

Andile Gumbi portrays the character of Zweli in isiBaya that is produced by The Bomb Shelter for M-Net's Africa Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

According to reports, Andile Gumbi's wife allegedly locked him out of their Randburg home, after which he allegedly broke down the door, attacked her, physically punched her and dragged the terrified woman across the floor.

A case was opened at Douglasdale police station and Andile Gumbi was arrested. The soap actor spent Freedom Day behind bars and appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Andile Gumbi was released after his court appearance. He will have to appear in court again later this month.

There's been no statement from Mzansi Magic regarding the actor.

COWABUNGA. Cows stolen off the isiBaya TV set; cattle call to find the missing Mzansi Magic moo-moo's yields no results; 'they were part of the family,' says production.

Cowabunga! Cows were stolen right off the isiBaya set of the hugely popular Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show.

Producers have been desperately searching for their missing Mzansi Magic moo-moo's - with no luck so far.

The producers of the soap will now have to find new cattle to populate the background of the weekday soap opera.

"Yes. All of our cows were stolen beginning of the year," Desiree Markgraaff, executive producer of isiBaya tells TV with Thinus.

"We had about 8 cows. It happened at night and we only discovered in the morning that the cows were gone. We loved those cows. They were part of the isiBaya family."

The Bomb Shelter production will now have to find new moo-moo's as isiBaya extras where their appearance have helped with the realistic depiction of the ongoing family feud between the Zungus and Ndlovus in the Thukela Valley.

"We will have to get new cows," says Desiree Markgraaff of the show filmed in Soweto, the title of which means "the kraal".

So far a cattle call for the lost cows has not yielded any results. "We do have people still searching all over for the cows, but eventually we'll have to get new ones."

The cattle theft was reported to the police. No word yet on whether TV set insurance in South Africa pays out for the loss and theft of this type of television movable asset.

Mzansi Magic's latest telenovela The Road conjures up Sophiatown as a TV show set behind a TV show, with a murder mystery in two time periods.

Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is going both high-brow and old school with its latest telenovela The Road starting tonight at 19:30 - a love story set against the backdrop of iconic Sophiatown filled with murder, mystery, politics and music.

"We hope our viewers will enjoy the authentic, sweeping love story set through an famous era's glamour and music," says Nkateko Mabaso, the M-Net director for local interest channels.

The Road with its high-brow concept hopes to capture the same success with audiences as Mzansi Magic did with Isibaya, although the intricate tale might be too difficult for some viewers.

The Road is set in two time periods - both the present and olden days Sophiatown - together with a murder mystery. Then there's the somewhat mind-bending aspect of the real-life actors playing characters in the story who are actors. These "actors" play characters in a Sophiatown setting, when a murder occurs.

Production company The Bomb Shelter describes it as "the beautiful singer Stella and talented writer Themba are star-crossed lovers longing to be together, but only destiny will tell if they end up in each other's arms".

"A heavyweight TV producer eager to tell and capture the touching story takes on the challenge, leading to spell-bound actions he couldn't have predicted".

The reality however is that the story is much more intricate that this, and it remains to be seen whether viewers will stick around for the viewing that requires some effort and concentration amidst the lavish beauty of 1950's recreated Sophiatown.

"This is a major milestone for us," says Nkateko Mabaso. "The Road marks our fourth venture into the genre and we've gone all out to create a high-quality, compelling drama for our audiences."

"We want them to feel immersed in the emotions of the characters and the demands of their worlds. The aim is to make a visually stunning, storyline-driven drama that will keep viewers enticed."

The Road will try to infuse and pay tribute to the sounds of the 50's and some of its greatest musicians into the story - and to then contrast that to modern-day Johannesburg.

The Road stars former Isidingo alum Darlington Michaels who has vowed to never return to the SABC3 soap saying he was badly treated and viewers can forget about "ever seeing me on Isidingo again".

Other The Road actors include Muzi Mthabela, Nandi Ngoma, Tsholofelo Maseko, Moneoa Moshesh, Solomon Sebothoma, Sithembiso Khoza, Gail Mabalane, Neo Ntlatleng and Sthandiwe Kgoroge.

SABC1's new telenovela, Uzalo, set to take on Mzansi Magic's Isibaya from 9 February in the same timeslot of 20:30 for 3 days a week.

The SABC first rejected the pitch for the show and forced the producers to retool it, but now, 3 years later, the new Zulu telenovela Uzalo from Stained Glass Productions will finally make it to TV.

The ambitiously filmed KwaZulu-Natal local drama Uzalo will starts on 9 February at 20:30 on SABC1 - trying to win back some audience share and viewers for the SABC against the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) telenovela-turned-soap soap juggernaut Isibaya in the same timeslot.

Each half hour episode which SABC1 will broadcast from Mondays to Wednesdays from 9 February, revolves around the Mdletshe and the Xulu families, straddling the world's of crime and church.

Uzalo is set in KwaMashu in Durban and also filmed on location in the township's F-section since December 2014.

Despite several production and writing challenges SABC1 and the production company believe that the new telenovela following after Generations - The Legacy in the 20:30 timeslot will keep viewers tuning in.

SABC2 plans to have its own telenovela on the air this year, and told TV critics in 2014 that it is looking at July 2015 to start its own local telenovela - the South African public broadcaster's second one.

One of president Jacob Zuma's daughters, Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube is the producer of Uzalo, together with Pepsi Pokane, with the playwright-producer Duma Ndlovu now writing the scripts after several other writers were initially tasked with producing scripts but left.

SABC1 describes Uzalo as "a provocative, bold and authentic narrative that tells the story of two family dynasties and the two young men who carry their hopes and legacies as they face the complexities of money, family and love".

What is means is that Uzalo will revolve around two sons of two families - one "good" and one "bad" and the conflict and friendship between them and their families.

The KwaMashu-born Bheki Mkwane from Isibaya on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel supplied by M-Net, will now appear in the rival localdrama Uzalo as patriarch pastor Melusi Mdletshe. Leleti Khumalo plays the pastor wife Zandile Zulu.

Other Uzalo stars include Khumbulani 'Kay' Sibiya, Naymaps Maphala and Mpumelelo Bhulose and Dawn Thandeka-King.

OPINION. M-Net's shocking glamourisation of gun violence in Isibaya publicity - why South African entertainment media needs to think more about what its actually doing.

I loathe to show this photo which is an Isibaya publicity image from M-Net, and issued by M-Net, for the telenovela-turned-soap on MultiChoice's Mzansi Magic TV channel on DStv.

I sincerely didn't want to show this publicity image coming from one of M-Net's entertainment TV productions, but after much thought (and not knowing how to give an opinion on it without showing it), I'm publishing it here, although I wish I didn't have to.

I hate that somebody can willingly construct and plan, and take such an image and not see anything wrong with it.

And I can't believe a TV channel (especially Mzansi Magic falling in the premium M-Net pay-TV stable) would take such a photo and then have the ignorant audacity to issue it to the press, wanting it to be used in conjunction with a fictional entertainment TV programme.

I'm only showing this repulsive image which Mzansi Magic wanted used, here after I thought long and hard about it (ironically for M-Net, Mzansi Magic and Isibaya, it is being used) to illustrate a point.

I believe - and its my personal opinion - that with this image M-Net, Mzansi Magic and Isibaya consciously or unconsciously glamourise gun violence in South Africa, something which doesn't sit well with me.

The sad thing is that M-Net doesn't seem to know better. Sad as well is that, in turn, inexperienced or uneducated entertainment journalists, writers and editors of consumer and tabloid magazines and newspapers who are clueless or don't know better, will actually use this image in publications.

They will do so not thinking twice and not fully understanding, grasping or having a bigger comprehension of why an image like this is problematic and wrong.

After all, if M-Net which is a big broadcaster has a publicity department which issues an image like this, it surely can't be wrong to use it. Right?

I've noted and explained it before what the problem is with publicity photos for entertainment value in which people appear using, holding or pointing guns.

For people and journalists working in media and broadcasters who don't understand, or missed the entertainment journalism class, but who are willing to listen and perhaps broaden their understanding of the issue, I will explain it again.

Newspapers, online, TV and magazines are full of violent images. A lot of it is of news events, meaning actual violent scenes of conflict. It reflects real events which really happened. Its sad and sometimes disturbing, but a true reflection of society.

That doesn't glamourise violence or gun violence. You also won't really see images or depictions of that in entertainment media.

Even fictional accounts - like dramas on television deal with conflict and is based on real-life events and reflect or is inspired by issues within society. I don't have a problem with that either. And yes, those stories need to be told.

What isn't right however is to set-up, take, and distribute a photo of characters in a story or TV show showing then holding guns, showing a man pointing a gun at somebody's head with the finger on the trigger, and even have that person's head in a bag indicating a (possible imminent) execution style killing.

It is wrong because the photo or publicity photo isn't the show. It goes beyond the show for the sake of promoting and selling that TV show. Which means a show is selling violence (when it could be selling itself by showing multiple other aspects of its story or characters).

Remember the context as well, please. Which is that South Africa is a country which M-Net, Mzansi Magic and Isibaya know or should know has a gun violence problem.

If a viewer tunes in and sees such a fictionalised event in a programme its not good but fine. But to lure a potential viewer to possibly watch such a programme with publicity material glamourising gun violence is not fine in my opinion.

Imagine a fictionalised TV show in which a teenager constantly contemplates and has attempted multiple suicide attempts.

Would it be right, and would you stand for a publicity photo being made and issued about a teenager standing on a bed with a rope around her neck tied to the roof or cutting herself (staged for publicity purposes to promote the show, of course)?

It's just a photo after all. And one that's not really real.

Imagine a fictionalised TV show in which a bad character also abuses animals.

Would it be right, and would you stand for a publicity photo being made and issued about animals seemingly being "tortured" and displayed in situations where you see they are suffering (although no animals were really harmed during the actual photo shoot)?

It's just a photo after all. And one that's not really real.

Imagine a fictionalised TV show in which a bad character is abusing his wife or women.

Would it be right, and would you stand for a publicity photo being made and issued about a woman in blood, on the floor, clearly trying to get away, and a man standing over her, menacingly, with a chain or whip in his hand above his head, clearly ready to strike or hit her?

It's just a photo after all. And one that's not really real.

How desensitised do you have to be then, to think that a publicity photo of a TV show in which people stand with guns and point a gun at somebody else's head in South Africa is okay?

Those working in media need to realise what they're doing and what they're really seeing, and the responsibility that goes along with entertainment media content creation, the marketing and publicity of that content, and the responsibility of how to appropriately cover it.

Look at the photo at the top again. Study it.

The people having and holding the guns are finely dressed in suits. What does it unconsciously signal? It signals that they're rich and wealthy (unlike the person on his knees who is dressed differently). They're also the ones with guns (even thought you can surmise that they're the "bad" characters and perhaps not to be emulated).

It is my believe that images like this glamourises gun violence in South Africa.

Some ordinary people will see this image and unconsciously think things like the following:
"Rich people have guns".
"If you're wealthy you also need a gun as an accessory".
"If you're big and the boss, you have (to have) a gun".
"In South Africa its okay, although its not okay, to hold a gun to the back of someone's head because I've seen an image like that before in an entertainment magazine".

An image like this, possibly republished multiple times after Mzansi Magic and Isibaya sends it out, creates a normative perception of what and who you think everyone else is, and what they're doing. That negatively impacts society and South African society.

American fictionalised TV shows and dramas which deal with extremely harsh topics, subjects and social constructs from real-life - from 24 to Homeland and Breaking Bad - have people with guns who shoot, torture and kill people. It contains a lot of violence and violent scenes (and yes, viewers are appropriately advised of the content).

But even in gun-obsessed American culture you won't see that gun violence promoted so crassly and seemingly thoughtlessly in publicity material for what essentially remains an entertainment programme - even if that entertainment programme is about depicting real-life situations.

In South Africa we - individuals, media workers and media companies - can sponsor and support and give away money to causes and help raise awareness to and for a litany of causes from being against violence against women and children and even responsible gun use.

The real contribution people in media in South Africa - especially in the entertainment sphere - can however make, is to be more consciously aware, and careful, of the images and messages they are a part of putting out for public consumption.

M-Net turns Isibaya telenovela on Mzansi Magic into a weekday soap; adds new characters, new storylines, new backdrops.

One of those open secrets in the South African TV industry was just confirmed with M-Net finally admitting/revealing/confirming that the Isibaya telenovela on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is becoming a weekday soap.

The pay-TV broadcaster commissioned and started Isibaya as a close-ended telenovela of 208 episodes but will now be exploiting the on-air property following strong viewership for the story about conflicting Johannesburg families set in Jozi's taxi industry where the Zungus and Ndlovus love and conspire in the vein of Shakepeare's Romeo & Juliet.

While Mzansi Magic's first telenovela iNkaba can now be considered a flop since it didn't prove a strong enough launchpad as a disguised soap in the making, Isibaya - produced by The Bomb Shelter - will start rolling out new episodes on every day of the week from 17 March.

The production has already added new characters to help flesh out the demand for new story and much more screen time.

"Mzansi Magic has decided not to leave Isibaya fans in the lurch and has now commissioned the series into a full-on soapie!" says the channel in a statement, exclamation mark included.

"The response to Isibaya has been fantastic," says Yolisa Phahle, the channel director of M-Net's general entertainment channels.

"Viewership exceeded the expectations we had when we launched in March 2013, with the show now consistently surprising viewers with fresh and interesting storylines. We are thrilled to now be able to offer our viewers a dose of Isibaya every weekday as the show enters a new era".

In a media enquiry made Tuesday and asked when Mzansi Magic took the decision to turn Isibaya into a soap and no longer a telenovela, Yolisa Phahle tells TV with Thinus that Isibaya has been on air for about three months "when we realised that the characters and the story had captured the imagination of our audiences in a way that was different to anything we'd seen before".

"It was a no brainer as our philosophy has always been to listen to the audience and try to produce more of the content they love. I am not keen of boxing the production into a genre, as I think it is different to anything that has been seen before".

How Isibaya will remian able to bring viewers those "fresh and interesting storylines", Yolisa Phahle says Isibaya has "a wealth of new storylines, new characters and new backdrops".

"We have actually had more time to develop this story than previous telenovelas as some of the key characters remain. Ultimately however the viewers will have their say, and we will respond to our audience".

Regarding the odd, lets-start-this-as-a-telenovela, lets-change-this-to-a-soap, Yolisa Phahle says "there are no hard and fast rules. At this point in time we were given an opportunity to take the story further which has resulted in it continuing".