TRACE Southern Africa ups Valentine Gaudin-Muteba to managing director to replace Leo Manne joining Net#work BBDO.

TRACE has upped Valentine Gaudin-Muteba who has been appointed as managing director for media, sales and operations at TRACE Southern Africa.

Her promotion follows Leo Manne's exit who quit to head up the creative ad agency Net#work BBDO as its new managing director.

Leo Manne, a former SABC executive, joined TRACE in May 2015 where he's been the past three years.

TRACE's channels are available on MultiChoice's DStv, Cell C's black subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, and eMedia Investment's Openview that carries Trace Sport Stars.

Valentine Gaudin-Muteba was TRACE Southern Africa's managing director in its Johannesburg office between September 2014 and July 2016 and was then promoted to vice president of channels and operations the past two years. 

From France, she's been living in South Africa the past 11 years.

TRACE says in her new role Valentine Gaudin-Muteba will be "responsible for ensuring that TRACE remains a relevant mouthpiece for the expression of Afro Urban talent across its many business verticals".

Olivier Laouchez, TRACE group executive chairperson, will continue as the Southern Africa CEO, based in South Africa.

Cell C's black has added 3 of the TRACE channels - TRACE Africa, Trace Gospel and TRACE Sports Stars - to its streaming platform.

Cell C's black streaming platform has added three of the TRACE channels to its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform in South Africa: TRACE Africa (604), TRACE Gospel (603) and TRACE Sports Stars HD (410).

Cell C recently launched black in South Africa, offering several linear TV channels that are streamed, including through its blackBOX set-top box.

TRACE Sports Stars was carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform for 4 years before it was dumped, and was carried on StarSat from China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM) before it was dumped from there too.

Trace Sports Stars has since been picked up by eMedia Investments' free-to-air satellite service OpenView HD (OVHD) from Platco Digital and profiles international sports personalities with a lifestyle and entertainment angle.

TRACE Sports Stars is streamed as a high definition (HD) channel on Cell C black.

TRACE Africa (StarSat 334 /  DStv 326) is already carried on both DStv and StarSat.

Cell C black is the first platform to carry and make TRACE Gospel available in South Africa.

TRACE Gospel shows videos of Contemporary Gospel, Urban Gospel, Worship Gospel and Traditional Gospel, as well as interviews with upcoming and established artists and features and concerts.

TRACE Gospel shows urban African music with music videos from various genres ranging from Afro-pop and Coupé-décalé, to Kwaito-house, Afro-trap, Makossa and N’dombolo.

The channel focuses on African music and culture by showcasing concerts and features related to African artists and urban African lifestyle content.

"TRACE is dedicated to being ahead of the curve and making its content available on all
platforms that will make viewing more convenient for our audience," says Leo Manne, TRACE Southern Africa senior vice president.

"The partnership with Cell C was therefore, a natural and well-fitting one".

Surie Ramasary, Cell C's chief executive of content, says "South Africans love TRACE as a brand and as black we needed to ensure that the content we made available to our customers would be both relevant and enjoyable".

Platco Digital's OpenView HD adds the Trace Sport Stars channel from Trace from Friday 3 June; channel already available on DStv and StarSat.

The Trace Sport Stars that's available on MultiChoice's DStv (188) and on StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat (250) hasn't been on my radar for a long while.

It isn't a channel I personally like for various reasons, but news to report is that Trace Sport Stars will be added to Platco Digital's OpenView HD from Friday 3 June.

Trace Sport Stars - a version of "E! meets sport celebrities" - will be carried on OpenView HD on channel 154 from 12:00 midday on Friday.

While as a non-premium channel Trace Sport Stars makes less sense on DStv and StarSat, its addition does make a difference on OpenView HD.

Put another way: its existence or absence doesn't enhance or detract from DStv or StarSat, but its existence on OpenView HD given its existing set of channels does make OpenView HD better.

"Trace Sport Stars will take a unique view on sport stars, giving our viewers access to content that is not currently available on the OpenView HD offering," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, Platco Digital channel acquisitions executive.

Leo Manne, Trace senior vice president for Southern Africa says Trace is "delighted about the new partnership with OpenView HD. Viewers will get the opportunity to know the real stories behind the sport stars they admire".

Trace Sport Stars shows include Star Rated that rates sport stars, and Lisa Raleigh and Maps Maponyane presenting 101 World Cups and 101 Excercises to Do Before You Die.

Will Best presents The Ultimate Sport Survival Guide featuring home video clips of exercise enthusiasts.

Former suspended SABC TV boss Leo Manne resurfaces at Trace as the TV group's new senior vice president for Southern Africa.

The former and suspended SABC TV boss Leo Manne who resigned last month at the public broadcaster, has suddenly resurfaced at Trace where he has just been appointed in a new position to look after the TV entertainment group's Southern Africa region.

Leo Manne is the newly appointed senior vice president for the Southern African region for Trace which runs TV channels like Trace Sport Stars (DStv 188) and Trace Urban (DStv 325) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Leo Manne left the SABC under a cloud at the end of April after he resigned, following a protracted 7 months suspension and investigation since the end of September last year for a possible disciplinary hearing.

Leo Manne, previously the longtime SABC1 channel head who was then promoted to general manager for TV channels over SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 at the SABC, was suspended by the SABC on 25 September 2014, "pending investigations".

The suspension followed over allegations that he was listed as a director of Siyaya TV, one of the new pay-TV operators who received a licence in 2014 from the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to start a new subscription television service.

Siyaya Free to Air TV will be a new competitor for not just MultiChoice's DStv, On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat and Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD) but also terrestrial broadcasters like the SABC and e.tv.

Siyaya Free to Air TV for instance snagged the exclusive TV broadcasting and radio rights to Bafana Bafana games last year in a 6-year deal reportedly worth more than R1 billion, taking it away from the SABC which used to have it and show these soccer games on SABC1.

After months of being suspended, Leo Manne took his case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), demanding to be reinstated as the general manager for TV channels at the SABC.

In April however, the CCMA ruled in favour of the SABC. The CCMA says "in the matter between the SABC and Leonard Moeranne Manne an arbitration award was issued on 21 April 2015 with the arbitrator ruling in favour of the employer of the employer".

Leo Manne tendered his official resignation from his SABC position after the CCMA ruling, which also brought to an end to the SABC's investigation which dragged along.

Trace has now hired Leo Manne, saying in a statement he will now oversee all broadcast media related operations within the Southern Africa region as Trace's new senior vice president after he's meandered through South Africa's media industry.

"I have always embraced any opportunity in my career that has allowed me to work with and create great media brands, especially in the context of a rapidly changing television and entertainment environment," says Leo Manne.

Leo Manne says he is looking forward to delivering "compelling and engaging localised content" for Trace.

"Leo Manne's specialised skills in broadcast media will prove to be a valuable asset to Trace moving forward and we welcome his unquestionable talents," says Olivier Laouchez, Trace CEO.

Suspended TV boss Leo Manne resigns as general manager for TV channels at the SABC after protracted investigation, fight to be reinstated.

The SABC's embattled and suspended TV boss Leo Manne has resigned and is gone from the SABC, following a protracted investigation and a behind-the-scenes fight to be reinstated and get his job back.

Leo Manne, previously the longtime SABC1 channel head who was then promoted to general manager for TV channels over SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 at the SABC, was suspended by the SABC on 25 September 2014, "pending investigations".

The SABC suspended Leo Manne over allegations that he was listed as a director of Siyaya TV, one of the new pay-TV operators who received a licence in 2014 from the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to start a new subscription television service.

Siyaya Free to Air TV will be a new competitor for not just MultiChoice's DStv, On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat and Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD) but also terrestrial broadcasters like the SABC and e.tv.

Siyaya Free to Air TV for instance snagged the exclusive TV broadcasting and radio rights to Bafana Bafana games last year in a 6-year deal reportedly worth more than R1 billion, taking it away from the SABC which used to have it and show these soccer games on SABC1.

Leo Manne tendered his resignation to the SABC and officially left the SABC at the end of April.

According to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records, Leo Manne was a director of Siyaya TV Consortium. Leo Manne says he declared his business interests to the SABC in 2012.

According to the CIPC, Siyaya TV Consortium shares an address and auditors with Siyaya Free To Air TV, although they are two separate business ventures.

After months of being suspended, Leo Manne took his case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), demanding to be reinstated as the general manager for TV channels at the SABC.

Besides asking to be reinstated, Leo Manne argued that the SABC suspension process and investigation had been unfair.

In April however, the CCMA ruled in favour of the SABC. The CCMA says "in the matter between the SABC and Leonard Moeranne Manne an arbitration award was issued on 21 April 2015 with the arbitrator ruling in favour of the employer of the employer".

Leo Manne tendered his official resignation from his SABC position after the CCMA ruling, which also brings an end to the SABC's investigation which dragged along.

The SABC didn't announce the resignation and the permanent position of general manager of TV channels at the SABC remains vacant.

The suspended SABC TV boss Leo Manne wants his job back; has taken his case to the CCMA over the SABC suspension process and investigation.

The SABC's suspended boss for TV channels wants his job back and has now taken the SABC to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in order to be reinstated.

Leo Manne has been on suspension from his job as the general manager for TV channels at the SABC for 6 months already, pending an ongoing investigation.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago didn't respond to a media enquiry regarding Leo Manne's CCMA complaint.

The CCMA confirmed that Leonardo Moerane Manne has approached the commission regarding his suspension. Leo Manne alleges that the SABC suspension process and investigation have been unfair and that he wants the SABC to reinstate him as general manager for TV channels.

Leo Manne was suspended by the SABC on 25 September 2014.

According to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records, Leo Manne was a director of Siyaya TV Consortium. Leo Manne says he declared his business interests to the SABC in 2012.

According to the CIPC, Siyaya TV Consortium shares an address and auditors with Siyaya Free To Air TV, although it's two separate business ventures.

In 2014 Siyaya Free to Air TV, which got a pay-TV licence from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), secured exclusive radio and TV broadcasting rights to Bafana Bafana games in a 6-year broadcast deal reportedly worth more than R1 billion, taking it away from the SABC and SABC1.

EXCLUSIVE. SABC's Leo Manne suspended indefinitely as general manager for TV at the public broadcaster, pending investigations.

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Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for TV channels has been suspended today, TV with Thinus can reveal.

The SABC confirms to me that Leo Manne has been placed on suspension today, following days of media enquiries since Monday asking for confirmation when sources first told me this is happening.

Leo Manne referred a telephonic media enquiry today to the SABC. The SABC confirmed that he was placed on suspension today for an indefinite period of time to allow investigations to take place.

The SABC tells me there is no immediate replacement at the SABC for the position, following Leo Manne's sudden suspension.

"Leo Manne has been suspended today. We don't know for how long, it's pending an investigation," SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago tells me.

"The person who would be acting in the position has not been decided".

Kaizer Kganyago didn't want to be drawn as to the reasons why Leo Manne - who was the previous SABC1 channel head - was suspended.

"Don't even go there. I'm not going to talk about any of that. This is a matter between the employer [SABC] and the employee, pending an investigation and that is where it ends".

"All that you need to know is that he has been suspended pending an investigation and that's it. We cannot divulge anything else".

Whether it relates to Leo Manne or not isn't clear at this stage, but according to sources who spoke about Leo Manne's suspension earlier this week before it happened today, there has been alleged irregularities regarding SABC airtime sales involving several people.

Sources said earlier this week that there's unhappiness inside SABC corridors regarding various things - some of which may, or may not, relate to today's suspension.

"There's been an avalanche of bad decisions including Generations, the Afrikaans news bulletin, sales commission issues, 'boys club politics and bad human resources management," one SABC insider told me yesterday and who apparently knew that a suspension was happening.

SABC internal memorandum: Schizophrenic 'SABC2 schedule only survives on 7de Laan and Muvhango; other than that prime time schedule is weak'.

The SABC2 schedule only survives on two pillar programmes - the Afrikaans soap 7de Laan at 18:30 and the Venda soap at 21:00, "other than that the prime time schedule is weak".

So wrote Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for the public broadcaster's TV channels in an internal memorandum he prepared on 30 June to Veronah Duwarkah, the SABC's group executive in charge of television, as "motivation for schedule changes risks and mitigations".

The SABC's has come in for sharp criticism and scorn from viewers after permanently moving the bulk of Afrikaans programming and the SABC's only daily Afrikaans TV news bulletin from SABC2 to SABC3 permanently.

SABC3 however has the smallest national footprint of all of the SABC's TV channels, making the programming unavailable and inaccessible for millions of South African TV households who can't watch it even if they want to because they don't receive the broadcast signal.

"The schizophrenic nature of the SABC2 schedule" according to the internal memorandum and the content offering to two very unrelated audience segments - being Sotho and Afrikaans viewers "has seen e.tv overtake SABC2 as the second most watched TV channel in South Africa over the years to the third most watched with consistent declines continuing".

"Ignoring these declines will severely compromise the viability of the SABC TV network to deliver against its set audience and revenue targets," reads the internal SABC memorandum.

Although the SABC earlier this week said Afrikaans has nothing to do with the dramatic scheduling changes, in the internal memorandum Leo Manne writes that "despite a very strong lead in from 7de Laan, the 19:00 Afrikaans news has been losing audiences over the last couple of years".

"The Afrikaans block of programing at 19:30 to 20:30 which includes the Afrikaans dramas on Tuesday and 50/50 on Mondays loses even more audiences".

"At 20:30 the Sotho news bulletin struggles to perform because of a very weak lead-in from the Afrikaans content".

The SABC's total share of TV audience during primetime for the months of March, April and May 2014, with e.tv and even DStv which is a pay-TV offering outperforming entire channels like SABC2 and SABC3 according to the SABC's internal memorandum.


According to the internal memorandum, the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng, held a SABC content summit in November 2013 where the SABC Television division presented its strategy forward for the next three years, and which included looking at trends and factors influencing the changing viewing patters across the South African TV landscape.

Schedule and content decisions for SABC Television were proposed and approved at this SABC content summit in November 2013.

How the SABC's various TV news bulletins fare and compare in terms of viewership (AR's or audience ratings) in the month of May 2014, compared to other TV channels and programming, according to the SABC's internal memorandum.

On SABC1 "18:30 is the weakest part of the prime time schedule and hence the introduction of anew local soap offering," says the memo.

As can be seen from the graphic above, the yellow column in the back row is the Nguni TV news bulletin on SABC1. 

" The Nguni bulletin is the strongest bulletin on the network and moving it to the 19:00 slot [on SABC1] would weaken the strong e.tv bulletin," according to the SABC's internal memorandum.

On SABC3, the SABC memorandum reveals that "the one hour news block has lost significant audience share between 18:30 and 19:30 creating a very weakened lead in for Isidingo at 19:00 despite it being the third best performing program in prime time after Days and Bold".

"The shortening of the 18:30 news bulletin will be revived in the schedule followed by an improved Isidingo and then followed by the Afrikaans News," Leo Manne wrote in the internal memorandum.

"The movement of the Afrikaans drama's and other content will, within a year of this strategy, ensure a very competitive and advertising attractive audience of LSM 8-10 audiences, while SABC1 and SABC2 deliver mass audiences in LSM 5-8".

The SABC was and is also well aware that SABC3's footprint is smaller and that moving the Afrikaans TV news and other content to SABC3 would take it out of reach of some viewers, but calls it a "current minor challenge".

"The roll out of both digital terrestrial television (DTT) and direct-to-home satellite (DTH) within a year will ensure that any areas not covered by our current transmitter network are filled," states the internal memorandum".

"This current minor challenge though cannot and should not deter the SABC from protecting its current business as it builds for niche multi-channel and platform digital future where special interest groups can be adequately served".

In written media enquiries TV with Thinus asked the SABC whether the broadcaster wants to comment on the memorandum and its content or explain anything about it. The SABC declined to respond.

BREAKING. Afriforum launches petition to keep Afrikaans TV news and Afrikaans programming on SABC2 after shocking move.

Afriforum has launched a petition to gather public support and names for a campaign to keep the SABC's only Afrikaans TV news bulletin and other Afrikaans language programming on SABC2 after the public broadcaster unilaterally moved it to SABC3 which has the smallest footprint of all the TV channels making it inaccessible for millions of South African TV households.

The SABC lied to viewers broadcasting on-air promos telling them the Afrikaans TV news - the SABC's sole TV news bulletin in this language would return to SABC2 on 14 July at 19:00. Instead it moved permanently to SABC3 at 19:30 and out of reach of millions of South Africans who don't get the channel.

Earlier this week the SABC lied and said the dramatic programming and schedule changes on SABC2 and SABC3 doesn't have anything to do with Afrikaans.

However an internal memorandum sent on 30 June by Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for TV channels, contains extensive market research about Afrikaans media consumers, Afrikaans viewers and the viewing patterns and viewership ratings of Afrikaans viewers.

The internal memorandum shows that the shift of the Afrikaans programming from SABC2 to SABC3 is indeed motivated and related to language, Afrikaans viewers, and the ratings performance of the SABC's Afrikaans programming.

It's also clear from the internal SABC memorandum that the content schedule shift was planned since last year when the SABC held a content summit.

Afriforum has started a petition to which people can add their name by SMS it to 45343 at the cost of R1 per SMS. The petition can also be filled in for free online.

According to Alana Bailey, the deputy CEO of AfriForum, the organisation is being inundated with complaints from angry viewers who live in areas where SABC3 cannot be received.  This includes areas in the Northern Cape, Western and Eastern Cape, as well as the Eastern Free State.

"The SABC's comments that Afrikaans is not being targeted and that thorough research had been undertaken before the changes were made, have no credibility," says Alana Bailey.

"A responsible public broadcaster without an ideological agenda against language and media freedom will actually ensure that programmes are broadcasted on the channel with the largest footprint in the areas where a specific language group is in the majority".

"It would ensure compliance with the public broadcaster's mandate and would make business sense too, as the Afrikaans market is about 31% of the total South African market.  With a much smaller exposure to this market, advertisers are sure to seek other advertising platforms".

New times at which programmes are being shown on the SABC elicit many complaints as well, says Alana Bailey. "These changes all serve to create the impression that every effort is being made to harass Afrikaans viewers".

How the SABC lied about the drastic scheduling changes implemented on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.

The SABC indicates in a 15 page internal memorandum how its TV market share has dropped from 100%in 1976 to 49% in 2013


The SABC lied to millions of affected South African TV viewers when saying the move of the public broadcaster’s only Afrikaans TV news bulletin to SABC3 is "temporary" and that it would return to SABC2 on 14 July, and is lying again saying drastic schedule changes to SABC2 and SABC3 has nothing to do with Afrikaans.

Viewers are fuming and are confused over not just the major programming shift of programmes from SABC2 to SABC3 but also where programmes moved to on SABC3, where various shows are now on SABC2, and what the new timeslots are.

Meanwhile millions of TV households in South Africa can no longer watch the SABC's sole Afrikaans TV news bulletin or shows like Pasella, 50/50 or current affairs show Fokus along with any Afrikaans drama series.

SABC3's signal footprint is the smallest of the SABC's three TV channels and cannot be received by millions of viewers who simply don't get the analogue terrestrial signal.

According to parastatal signal distributor at least 8 million South African TV households don't have satellite TV or pay-TV on which the SABC's TV channels are carried digitally. 

These households' TV reception depend on whether they live close enough to a possible terrestrial transmission tower broadcasting SABC1, SABC2 or SABC3 or any combination of these. 

While the SABC told advertisers and sponsors last month that the Afrikaans TV news, drama slot and the bulk of Afrikaans TV programming will be moving from SABC2 to SABC3 permanently from after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the SABC told the public the move of the Afrikaans news is only temporary.

 The SABC issued a statement about the "temporary changes" in June, and kept broadcasting on-air promos in which the SABC specifically told viewers they would be able to see the Afrikaans news again on SABC2 at 19:00 from 14 July.

On 14 July the SABC announced the Afrikaans TV news is staying on SABC3 and in the 19:30 timeslot, as well as the other permanent programming moves and scheduling changes.

Earlier this week the SABC said the drastic and already controversial schedule changes has nothing to do with Afrikaans.

TV with Thinus has an international memorandum from the SABC – the motivation for the SABC's TV schedule changes – sent on 30 June by the SABC's general manager for TV channels, clearly showing that the SABC2 and SABC3 changes are specifically related to language, Afrikaans viewers, and the ratings performance of the SABC's Afrikaans programming.

The internal SABC memorandum contains extensive market research about Afrikaans media consumers, Afrikaans viewers and the viewing patterns and viewership ratings of Afrikaans viewers which forms the basis of the motivation of the SABC to move the Afrikaans news and other programming to SABC3. 

It's also clear from the internal memorandum that the content schedule shift was planned since last year when the SABC held a content summit.  

The SABC also knew that SABC3 is also not as widely received as a terrestrial broadcast TV signal as SABC2 but calls it "a current minor challenge" in the memorandum.

Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for TV channels, wrote in the 15 page memorandum that "the roll out of both digital terrestrial television (DTT) and direct-to home (DTH) within a year will ensure that any areas not covered by our current transmitter network are filled".

"This current minor challenge though cannot and should not deter the SABC from protecting its current business".

In media enquiries TV with Thinus asked the SABC whether the broadcaster wants to comment on the memorandum and its content or explain anything about it. 

The SABC was asked why the broadcaster in TV promos told viewers the Afrikaans news would return when the broadcaster knew it wasn't the case, and how the SABC wants millions of TV households to see the programming that moved on SABC3 if they don't and have never had access to the channel. 

The SABC declined to provide answers to these and other questions.

SABC admonishes: 'Don't call us Yama Repeats'. Public broadcaster says new content is in the works at the SABC.

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"Don't call us Yama Repeats".

So says the SABC, tired of viewers chastising the South African public broadcaster for the heaps of repeats, rebroadcasts and old programming shown on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.

The SABC's top TV executives told South Africa's TV critics, journalists and advertisers at the SABC's Post 2014 World Cup programming Upfront that it would like to see the South African public stop calling the SABC "Yama Repeats".

"There's big plans for new content going forward, new content that's currently in the works at the SABC," says Leo Manne, the general manager for TV channels at the SABC.

"So across all three TV channels we're completely committed to ensuring that we invest a lot more money in local content. Not only because it works for us from an audience delivery point of view, but it's the right thing to do in encouraging the local TV market and film industry to move forward and grow".

"We have been negotiating and we have successfully negotiated lengthy, long term deals with a lot of our international distributors - particularly for movie content".

"Where we're in a position now - and we haven't been for a very long time - where we're able to commit specific movie titles per slot, per TV channel, at least six months in advance," says Leo Manne.

The SABC is implementing major changes to the schedules of SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 from after the 2014 World Cup ending 14 July, such as moving the bulk of Afrikaans content to SABC3, changing SABC2 to a "family channel" focused around nation building, and drastically changing SABC1's primetime schedule which will now offer 100 percent local content.

"Coming out of the World Cup we're in a position to offer fresh, five new dramas in weekday primetime on SABC1. We've been labeled 'Yama Repeats' as SABC1 and we had to address it in terms of the contribution we make to the TV production industry, especially around dramas," says Maijang Mpherwane, SABC1 channel head.

"Around the situation around 'Yama Repeats' it is a pity that we are not able to go to a public platform and explain your schedule strategy decisions all the time to people," says Leo Manne.

"With the World Cup schedule starting in mid-June, there was no way that we could start a new series of dramas at the end of May, then interrupt it for a month of World Cup and then start a new schedule after that".

"So we had to, everything considered, go into a repeat mode for that month and a half period, and then come back and introduce these brand new schedules for the SABC," says Leo Manne.

"People see what they want to see and it's a problem that we can't go out there and explain some of these decisions to everybody out there".

"So there was a reason for the repeat period of a month and a half. It wasn't because there was no content or that there was no planning from a SABC Television point of view. We have this tournament that sits smack in the middle of your fiscal  that you need to account for and plan around," says Leo Manne.

"It's also a matter of being criticised because you're the best and people expect the best from you," says Maijang Mpherwane.

"There is no broadcaster out there in the world that doesn't schedule repeats. We have to schedule repeats. In order to balance costs you have to".

SABC entertainment TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform will launch before the end of 2014, says the SABC.

The SABC says its SABC entertainment channel will launch on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform before the end of this year.

The SABC says partnerships between itself as a public broadcaster and private companies to provide TV channels to them, will be come increasingly important and is an important focus of the SABC.

The SABC entertainment TV channel should have launched in November 2013 on DStv - one of two SABC channels supplied by the South African public broadcaster to MultiChoice - the other being the SABC News (DStv 404) 24-hour TV news channel.

The SABC entertainment TV channel will be using archive material from the SABC's TV library to compile the schedule.

"In our partnership that we currently have with DStv, we currently provide the 24-hour TV news channel, SABC News to DStv".

"We should be launching another channel with DStv before this year is over which is a general entertainment channel," Leo Manne, the general manager for TV channels at the SABC, told TV critics, journalists and advertisers at the SABC's Post 2014 World Cup programming Upfront.

TV with Thinus asked MultiChoice in the week about what the SABC said and what MultiChoice wants to share or say about the channel.

MultiChoice says "the launch and details of the SABC entertainment channel will be announced when we are ready to communicate".

"It is important speaking to an audience like this, in terms of digital terrestrial television (DTT), but also in terms of creating TV channels outside of DTT with some of our telecommunications partners, partnerships - public-private partnerships - in creating channel opportunities are very important and will be very important for us going forward," said Leo Manne.

"There are some TV channels that we will capacitate ourselves and build ourselves to meet our mandate [for DTT], but there's some entertainment TV channels - some specific niche entertainment TV channels - that we will go into partnerships with others and other public partners to ensure that we create entertainment that speaks to all South Africans," said Leo Manne.

BREAKING. SABC ready to dump several Afrikaans language TV shows from SABC2; moving news, drama to smaller SABC3 permanently.

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The SABC is getting ready to dump almost all of the remaining Afrikaans language shows still left on SABC2 and will  move this Afrikaans programming to SABC3 - a channel with a much smaller footprint - meaning that Afrikaans is getting marginalised even further as an overall broadcasting language on SABC terrestrial television.

It is the result of a TV programming language battle at the SABC which has "become unsustainable" for the public broadcaster's SABC2 channel.

I can reveal that the SABC will permanently move its sole terrestrial, daily, Afrikaans language TV news bulletin, Nuus om 7, from SABC2 to SABC3 once the SABC's coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup concludes.

It will also be the first time in 38 years that there won't be any Afrikaans TV drama on SABC2 (the former TV1) since television began in South Africa in 1976.

The Afrikaans drama slot, when that content is commissioned by the SABC, will play out on the much smaller SABC3 where less viewers are able to see it..

Viewer anger flared up this week when the SABC canned its sole Afrikaans TV news bulletin on terrestrial  television entirely since Sunday for this week with no forewarning to viewers who couldn't find it on SABC2 or SABC3 because it doesn't exist.

The Nuus om 7 has become a "hurdle" for SABC2 - although its remains a huge viewership and ratings getter.

The move is part of a broader language shift of Afrikaans away from SABC2 since the SABC says that trying to do both Sotho and Afrikaans on SABC2 has "become unsustainable".

Shows like the current affairs program Fokus, TV drama Swartwater, magazine show 50/50 (which also contains other languages) will all be repositioned from SABC2 to SABC3 permanently.

The upcoming move will leave only soap 7de Laan and game show Noot vir Noot as the last vestiges of predominantly Afrikaans language programming on SABC2.

SABC3 has the smallest terrestrial broadcasting signal footprint of the SABC's three terrestrial TV channels.

It means that Afrikaans language programming - already a fraction of what it was on the SABC and SABC2 almost two decades ago in 1996 when the public broadcaster relaunched TV1, CCV and NNTV as SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 - is being further marginalised.

Since SABC3 cannot be received by as many South African viewers as SABC2 and SABC1 - especially in the vast areas further away from big metropolitan areas and cities - it means that less potential viewers who would want to, would be able to tune in for the daily Afrikaans news bulletin, Fokus, 50/50 or Swartwater simply because they simply don't get the signal.

Interestingly, only Afrikaans language shows are moved away from SABC2. (SABC3's English language current affairs interview show Interface will be moving to SABC2.)

It's part of a "network" approach between the three SABC TV channels with firstly a dramatic new schedule structure coming to SABC1 from immediately after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

SABC2 will slowly change to let the SABC1 changes happen first and not to steal the sister channel's thunder, and then have its major schedule changes in September. SABC3 will follow after that and could be doing away with its recognisable blue look when it gets a new on-air look as early as from the beginning of July.

Where the Afrikaans language Nuus om 7 and Fokus are both perenially making the list of top 10 most watched programmes on SABC2 every week at around 1.5 million and 1.3 million viewers respectively, these viewership ratings are set to plunge when these programmes move to SABC3 which as a channel is available in less TV households.

Nuus om 7 will get the 19:30 timeslot on SABC3, while the hour long English news bulletin which has not been performing well, will be cut back down to only half an hour again, starting at 18:30.

"The Afrikaans news as we have it at the moment will be moving to SABC3 permanently," Jacqui Hlongwane, SABC2's acting programme manager told TV critics and advertisers this week.

"What that does for us on the SABC2 schedule is that it opens it up, so that we're able to flow better. It's been quite a challenge for SABC2 in the past. We really have been like a schizophrenic TV channel."

"We've been serving two markets now - the Sesotho audience as well as the Afrikaans audience - and it's really been quite a struggle to try and serve both those important audiences," said Jacqui Hlongwane. "In one channel that kind of positioning has become unsustainable".

"In terms of our family proposition, we want content that speaks to South African families. So language should not be what defines us".

"We will still have all the languages on our channel, including Afrikaans, not all the content is going to SABC3 that's Afrikaans, but we do feel that it's about family viewing, that it's about family values and all the good things that we need to build this country," said Jacqui Hlongwane.

"At 18:30 on SABC2 we have 7de Laan. That stays on the channel from Monday to Friday. And then after that where we had the Afrikaans news we will start introducing things like family game shows and reality and factual content".

"After that we will put some sitcoms in - both foreign and local sitcoms - as well as a new telenovela that we want to introduce".

"Obviously it takes time to produce that kind of local content but hopefully by July next year we have a telenovela. So there's a lot of local content investment going on at SABC2 because viewers said that they want to see themselves. They want their lives reflected on screen," said Jacqui Hlongwane.

"Swartwater, basically the Afrikaans drama slot, is moving to SABC3. So SABC2 won't be having Afrikaans dramas anymore, it moves to SABC3," said Jacqui Hlongwane.

"It is a challenge with three TV channels to try and accomodate and speak to, and be relevant to 34 million TV households in this country, but we do it, and we try and do it to the best of our ability," said Leo Manne, the general manager for TV channels at the SABC.

SABC channel head changes at the South African public broadcaster's television division: who is now where, doing what exactly.

You're reading it here first. 

Channel head changes at the Television division of South Africa's public broadcaster is once again creating sweeping new management dynamics within the TV section of the SABC as executive musical chairs shuffling continues.

All three of the SABC's TV channels have acting channel heads.

Verona Duwarkah remains the group executive for television at the SABC.

Leo Manne formerly the channel head of SABC1, is now the general manager for television channels at the SABC. This position under Verona Duwarkah is the executive management post tasked to look directly after, and oversee, the trifecta of the public broadcasters three TV channels - SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.


At SABC1 (with Leo Manne vacating that position) Sam Mpherwane, previously the acting programming manager, is now the new acting SABC1 channel head.

At SABC2 Pulane Tshabalala is the acting channel head.

At SABC3 Lefa Afrika, previously the programming manager, is now the new acting SABC3 channel head. TV with Thinus broke that news earlier this month when Ed Worster, the acting SABC3 channel head suddenly and unexpectedly left with early retirement.



What is means: Essentially SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 kicks off 2013 with new and acting channel heads, as well as a new general manager for television at the SABC overseeing all three channels. It's a huge change for the SABC's television division as a whole which is supposed to stabilise and solidify.

It also begs the question as to why the SABC remains completely unable to find and appoint permanent channel heads for its TV channels despite having had years now to do that. There's also not any new blood coming in from the outside and infusing the struggling broadcaster with new talent, new vision and new impetus from South Africa's wider television industry.

Once again the SABC rolls over a new year and start a new financial year with brand-new acting television channel heads.

The SABC as a television broadcaster can do better television, and deliver a better public broadcasting service if it can solidify and settle its executive ranks. Not only does it reflect better on the broadcaster, it also helps South Africa's wider television industry and TV community with knowing who to deal with (and who they're dealing with).

The constantly, almost yearly, and unexpected and ongoing shuffling and turnover at the top executive ranks within television at the SABC is not condusive to the service, quality, perception of dependability and image of the SABC's Television division.

Establish your princes for your provinces, and settle down so the hard-working peasants from the TV industry making the stuff you broadcast, not only know where to bring their labour to, but whose name to call at the gate.

Advertiser-funded programming increase on SABC1 as the public channel takes over Tropika Island of Treasure which was on e.tv.

SABC1 is taking over the product-placement heavy, advertiser-funded realitrash Tropika Island of Treasure and the upcoming 5th edition will be taking place in Jamaica, exactly as I exclusively revealed it would back in March. The advertiser-funded production (AFP) used to be on e.tv which is now obviously done with it.

The advertiser-funded production (AFP) on a public TV channel of South Africa's public broadcaster - which ideally shouldn't be dabbling in this kind of commercial airtime exploitation - least of all during primetime, is slotting the 5th edition of Tropika Island of Treasure for Saturdays at 18:30 from February 2013.

Tropika Island of Treasure is still being produced by Stimulii with Samantha Moon as executive producer. How far off is an "all-stars" version?

"SABC1 aims to bring viewers only the best in South African entertainment and we are very proud to add Tropika Island of Treasure 5 to our line-up," says Leo Manne, SABC1's acting channel head in a press statement.

BREAKING. SABC1 wants to remain 'number one television brand' in 2012 with new seasons of Montana, Tshisa; several brand-new shows.

''The constantly evolving television landscape has become both exciting and challenging with all the envisaged changes around the digitalization of the airwaves that will result in the introduction of new channels in the near future,'' says Leo Manne, SABC1's acting channel head, reflecting on 2011, and talking about some of what SABC1 is planning for 2012.

''Consistent with our desire to remain the number one television and content brand, the channel has continued to ensure in 2011 that our viewers are kept entertained and informed through an innovative programming basket that catered for a varied mix of content covering our tried and tested favourites as well as fresh and new exciting programs,'' he says.

''Viewers can look forward to an interesting New Year with an exciting programming roll-out that includes titles on offer [such as] the second season of Montana, Child Geniuses, Daddy 24/7, the third season of Tshisa, the new local drama Fashionistas, the new local reality show Tipping Point, and the docu-reality show Stage of Life,'' Leo Manne says.

''Our aim is to compete. To compete decisively for each and every viewer in each and every timeslot,'' says SABC1 acting channel head Leo Manne.

You're reading it here first.

''Our aim as three TV channels are to compete. And to compete decisively for each and every viewer in each and every timeslot, each and every day.'' So says SABC1's acting channel head, Leo Manne, when I asked him about this story I wrote in November last year about the SABC's planned new network strategy to stop the three SABC channels from ''cannibalizing'' each other's viewers.

''Our aim is to compete as hard as we can, even though we are sister channels,'' Leo Manne told me. ''That said, as the three TV channels of the SABC we are very careful about how we program. You might find for instance that there's a block of programming where we know that if we show different things between us, that we'll have a bigger chance of getting different viewers.''

''So we play around and we plan so that we can do exactly that – get all the different audiences as much of the time, between the three of us. Our main broad aim is for the SABC's TV channels to grow our reach combined over all three the channels.''

BREAKING. SABC admits it was a ''challenging'' year, searching ''to find new ways'' to reach viewers.

You're reading it here first. The SABC hopes that some schedule changes on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 in 2010, as well as the World Cup Soccer tournament, and some cosmetic refreshment on several local TV shows will help the broadcaster's three TV channels to lure back some of the viewers and advertisers that it's lost in this difficult year.

''The easy days of 'appointment viewing' are over,'' says the SABC, and points to the global economic recession, but also ''increasing fragmentation of audiences, new platforms, new technologies, aternative ways to view television and digital terrestrial television (DTT)'' as things that's making it much harder for TV channels to retain and gain viewers.

''Africa's leading broadcaster needs to find new ways t reach its traditional audiences,'' says the SABC. ''More than ever audiences are informed about the broadcasting environment and it remains up to the SABC to stay one step ahead in terms of content that is relevant as well as cutting edge.''

SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3's channel head's gave their view, click through below on Read More to see what each one of them has to say about the past year and what lies ahead in 2010!