'Drastic' scheduling changes for the SABC's 3 TV channels starting from right after the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 14 July.

Changes the SABC top TV executives themselves describe as "drastic" is coming to the South African public broadcaster's three terrestrial TV channels - SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 -  from 14 July after the conclusion of the SABC's 2014 FIFA World Cup coverage.

SABC1 will change first with some big changes on SABC2 and SABC3, and then other changes later on SABC2 and SABC3 later during the year.

TV with Thinus already revealed - and stands by those stories - of how the Afrikaans news bulletin that was on SABC2 and moved to SABC3 for the duration of the World Cup,will be shifted to SABC3 permanently.

The Afrikaans drama slot on SABC2 which has been there since 1976 when SABC television started on the then TV1, is moving to SABC3 - the SABC channel received by the least number of TV households in the country.

Several other Afrikaans programming, from Fokus, Voetspore and others are moving to SABC3 permanently, SABC2 and SABC3 TV programming executives and channel heads told the press and advertisers.

SABC1: The schedule will change completely
SABC1 won't be the same from 14 July," says Sam Mpherwane, SABC1 channel head. "Coming out of the World Cup we're looking to create and offer a schedule which hasn't existed and not been seen in the country before"

"The schedule will change completely - both in primetime and daytime. For the first time we're launching a soapie in primetime at 18:30 something that has been a dream for a decade. We've moved our news bulletins from 19:30 to 19:00 because that is when the people want to catch them. We've moved our sitcoms from 19:00 to 19:30. Generations stays at 20:00".

"Its important for us to go out with this fresh, exciting content that we'll be offering to viewers. Largely the SABC1 schedule will change drastically".


SABC2: Introducing game shows and reality
"The Afrikaans news as we had it on SABC2 is moving to SABC3 from 14 July, said Jacqui Hlongwane, SABC2's acting programme manager. "What does for us on the schedule is that it opens it up so that it flows better. It's been quite a challenge for SABC2 in the past. We really have been like a schizophrenic channel".

"We've been serving two markets - the Sesotho audience as well as the Afrikaans audience - and it's been really quite a struggle to serve both those very important audiences. But in one channel that kind of positioning has become unsustainable."

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. In primetime you will see these changes."

"Unlike SABC1 those changes will come in a phased-in approach. We will start in July slowly. Then in September we will go bigger. It will be an evolusionary process".

"We will allow them [SABC1] to first take the space and shine. Hopefuly all these changes will work to make all three channels better so that we offer a solid network of content that every South African can watch," said Jacqui Hlongwane.

Interface is moving from SABC3 to SABC2.


SABC3: Going younger, a 'whole new SABC3 by February 2015'
Aisha Mohamed, SABC3's new channel head said the troubled commercial TV channel of the broadcaster is going younger.

"We're going to focus a lot on local productions, so there's a strong focus on generating good local content especially within the genre of lifestyle and entertainment - fashion, food, travel - all of the things viewers have come to expect from SABC3 - just with a younger look".

"SABC3 will slowly start changing. It won't be jarring. Once the World Cup is over viewers won't get brand new programmes and content. You will get a new schedule for sure. Repeats will get knocked off quite a bit. The schedule definitely changes. The focus will be on younger".

"What you might also get in July and what we're aiming for, is a new on-air look and feel. So SABC3 will no longer be blue necessarily. In July it might have a new look and feel."

"By August there will be more change; by September. By the time we get to next year February [2015], it will be a brand-new SABC3," said Aisha Mohamed.


SABC has to stay relevant
"We can't exist in the way that we've always existed," says Leo Manne, the general manager for TV channels at the SABC. "It's important that a public broadcasting platform like the SABC stays relevant as far as South Africa's development is concerned. That's why is necessary that we react to the times".

TV with Thinus asked specifically about ongoing scheduling disruption at the SABC and why the SABC channels are changing schedules again shortly after the World Cup changed schedules.

SABC schedules changed in a big way last year when The Bold and the Beautiful was moved from SABC1 to SABC3.

"There is no broadcaster in the world which doesn't change schedules," says Leo Manne.

"It is a challenge with three channels, to try and accomodate and speak to, and be relevant to millions of TV households. But we do it and we try and do it to the best of our ability. Naturally you can't please everybody; you won't please everybody".

"The challenge is perhaps we can try and become a lot better in the way we communicate and how we communicate these changes," says Leo Manne.

TOLDJA! Aisha Mohamed at SABC3, Sam Mpherwane at SABC1, Gerhard Pretorius at SABC2 as the SABC's 3 permanent new channel heads.

TV with Thinus broke the news: That Aisha Mohamed is the new SABC3 channel head at the SABC - now, finally, the SABC confirms what TV with Thinus readers have known for days.

From 1 April Aisha Mohamed will become SABC3's new channel head.

The SABC also says that Maijaing Mpherwane will become the new SABC1 channel head and Gerhard Pretorius will become the new SABC2 channel head.

Both Maijang Mpherwane and Gerhard Pretorius have been the acting channel heads at SABC1 and SABC2 for months (Maijang Mpherwane for more than a year) and are solid appointments by the SABC.

While the end credits roll on SABC1 local programmes and then shows the name Maijang Mpherwane at the end as the acting SABC1 channel head, those in the biz, the press and those inside SABC corridors of course know him simply as Sam Mpherwane.

He was SABC1's longtime programming manager before taking on the acting channel head responsibilities.

The three great and fixed appointments for TV channel heads will bring greater stability to the SABC's Television division, as executives can concentrate on the quality of programming, scheduling and restoring their individual TV channels to more unique target audiences.

The SABC's so-called "transversal strategy" for its three TV channels (besides SABC News) is not working and has blended, neutered and effectively erased any distinctness and unique channel selling propositions.

SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 have become very much the same the past few years with very little distinction between their respective offering - so much show that each channel shows the others' soaps, repeats each other's movies and even takes over programming with The Cosby Show which would run on SABC3 and move to SABC1, Bold and the Beautiful which moved from SABC1 to SABC3, and a litany of TV series which would be seen on more than one channel.

"AS SABC management we have confidence that these individuals will work well with their teams to continue to keep SABC Television the number one television network in South Africa," says Verona Duwarkah, the SABC's group executive for television.

BREAKING. Generations cast refuse to sign new contracts; many of the soap's biggest names now face the threat of being written out.

The biggest names in SABC1's Generations - South Africa's biggest soap and the country's number one TV show in viewership for over two decades - are refusing to sign new contracts, with a looming threat that they will be written out of the SABC's biggest weekday TV cash machine.

The cast and crew of Generations will return to the SABC tomorrow, Monday, after they've been gone for two weeks.

The Generations contract revolt comes after Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC's acting chief operating officer (COO) and famously matricless enfant terrible, announced in June at a Generations party for the soap's 20th anniversary, that the production company, Morula Pictures, is now getting 3 year renewal contracts instead of the one year contracts which has been the case up to now.

Longtime Generations cast members who feel that they've helped the show grow and maintain its 8 million viewers through season after season, are insistent that they also get bumped up from one year, to three year contracts, to share in the more longer term renewal prospects of the prime time soap.

Now veritable South African soap royalty like Sophie Ndaba who plays Queen and who is the longest remaining soap star on the show, Menzi Ngubane, Katlego Danke and several actors such as Xolisa Xaluva, Anga Makubalo, Thami Mngqolo and others who play beloved Generations characters are facing the threat of being written out  of the soap and the actors dumped from the Mfundi Vundla produced show if new contracts are not signed.

Generations has not publicly responded yet with any kind of statement regarding new contract negotiations with longstanding members of the soap's cast, but according to insiders the soap stars want higher remuneration because they want to share in the success of the show.

They also want contracts of longer that one year since the production company is getting longer term renewal deals, and thought that would automatically means extended contract lengths for them as well. The contracts they refuse to sign are again for a one year period.

Earlier this month SABC1's acting channel head Sam Mpherwane said Generations remains in strong demand under viewers and that SABC1 and Generations "is happy to create new stars".

Generations remains the cornerstone of not just SABC1's programming line-up, but of the entire SABC, remaining a strong cash generating machine for the public broadcaster with expensive rates for advertising timeslots due to the huge number of viewers.

Generations on SABC1 debuts a new title sequence, title card for its 20th anniversary; soap 'continues to amaze us," says channel boss.

Stealing several elements from the videography history of other soaps such as Binneland, The Bold and the Beautiful and Dynasty, Generations- South Africa's most watched TV soap and most watched soap opera - debut a new, yet looking extremely derivative, opening title sequence on Monday night to mark the long running programme's 20th anniversary on television.

Saxophone infused melodies in the opening theme song reminiscent of Binneland and turning-twirling characters reminiscent of both Dynasty and The Bold and the Beautiful ertwhile opening sequences now infuse the new 45 second Generations opener which is trying to re-establish a high-gloss feel for the soap's audience.

The new Generations opener also contains Downton Abbey-esque scenes which looks almost lifted from the British period drama, seemingly to signify the aspirational aspect of the show: the help has to position crystal glasses at a dinner setting and dust the family heirlooms on the mantlepiece.

Sam Mpherwane, the acting SABC1 channel head, spoke on SABC2's morning show Morning Live on Monday morning, saying "Generations amazes us" as far as the viewership is concerned.

"Generations remains heavily in demand - the repeats, the omnibus and across the SABC's three channels where it repeats. Generations amazes us in terms of the number of audiences it attracts."

"Normally we just focus on the number of viewers it attracts on the 20:00 every day on SABC1, but collectively when we look at the repeats and the Generations omnibus we get amazed."

"The creators and the different people who have been working on Generations from the SABC's side have always made sure that this is one series that talks to the real South Africans. The fact that it's been on SABC1 which is essentially the biggest channel in South Africa has gone a long way in ensuring that this can be a pioneering series that sets trends and from a storytelling perspective continues to make waves," said Sam Mpherwane.

Regarding the risque storylines - gays, gays adopting, domestic violence where the woman is the abuser - Sam Mpherwane said "SABC1 is a youth channel" and that "we have to tell bold stories".

"We have to tell stories that would normally not be told, but we have to do it in a responsible manner, and that's the one thing that Generations does so well. It tells what would normally be termed controversial stories, but it does so in a responsible manner in a way in which you as the viewer feel that you can relate to the stories. It resonates with my world."

Sam Mpherwane says SABC1 is happy to use Generations as a TV show "to challenge the norm". He said the show wants to make an impact in viewers' lives.

He said SABC1 and Generations is happy to "create new stars". "Generations lives within the universe of SABC1 as 'Mzansi's biggest storyteller'. It's not an isolated brand," said Sam Mpherwane, saying Generations will try to continue to tell big stories.

"As a channel the next 20 years are looking bright for us. Generations continues to be a key pillar in the plans that we have as SABC1, so we're looking forward to the next 20 years of nothing but the absolutely greatest story telling," said Sam Mpherwane.

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.