SABC awash in massive number of repeats and soap operas; struggling to meet language mandate; 'decline' in quality of news content - MMA study.

A new research study by the independent Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has found that the South African public broadcaster's TV channels gets a failing grade, struggling to meet its language diversity mandate and with SABC television awash in a massive number of repeats and soap operas.

The MMA has decided to carry out the groundbreaking research as the SABC has had 6 CEO's in 6 years and 3 different boards with massive financial problems and instability at management level since 2008.

ALSO READ: SABC is repeats, repeats repeats - study.

The research, funded by the Open Society Foundation, which followed the SABC's main news bulletins and analysed all listed programmes between April and mid-May this year, found that there are high levels of repeats on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.

SABC1 uses 28% of its broadcasting time for repeat programming, SABC2 uses 21% of its airtime for repeats and SABC3 allocates 15% of its broadcasting time for repeats. Furthermore only 41% of the content on SABC3 is local. That means that almost a quarter - 21% of all broadcasting time on the SABC - is devoted to rebroadcasts.

Furthermore, rebroadcasts of old TV series like MacGyver are not considered repeats (only programmes repeated within the same monitoring week) which means that the number of old and repetitive programming on the SABC which viewers have seen previously and years before are in effect even higher.

According to the study carried out by Lethabo Dibetso and Thandi Smith, the SABC, besides using news, make heavy use of repeat programming to meet local content quota targets as required in the regulations from the industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

The SABC appears to make its target of 55% local content with about 70% - but only because it includes sport (which is not counted as local content) and news. "Without news SABC channels' compliance with its requirements are no longer met on SABC3, and only just over on SABC1 and SABC2."

"Although the local content quota of the SABC is allowed to be met by including repeats, without the repeat programming it is clear that all channels across the SABC do not meet its quota," the study notes.

Struggling to meet language mandates
Although English is only spoken as a first language by 8% of the population and the SABC is required to broadcast in all official languages, English dominates in SABC programming (76%). A massive 65% of all locally produced content on the SABC is in English. The next biggest languages trailing far behind are Afrikaans at only 6% and Zulu (5%), Xhosa, Sotho and Tshivenda (3%). Half of the Afrikaans (50%) language broadcast on the SABC is accounted for by the soap 7de Laan alone.

"As such it is obvious that the language diversity on the SABC is limited. These figures suggest that the SABC struggles to fulfil its language mandates," the study notes.

Decline in quality of news content
According to the study, when it comes to SABC News, "political parties set the agenda" notes the study, saying that marginal people are underrepresented in news coverage and that provinces with large metropolitan areas are given better and more coverage. SABC news bulletins also don't explain stories in depth.

"Gender does not seem to be a priority for SABC News," the study notes. Males sources for news account for 80%. Meanwhile academics and experts were the least accessed sources (2%) by SABC news and political parties the most (21%). SABC news uses spokespersons the most as sources (62%) of information which the study warns "is to the detriment of other sources of information who may provide another perspective."

SABC2's Nuus om 7 had the highest number of expert sources. SABC3's News @ 7 provided the most information containing a citizen's perspective as well as a gender perspective.

Regarding SABC news the study notes "a decline in the quality of content that viewers and listeners get from the SABC news services". "All SABC stations seem to struggle to put out sufficient current affairs programming during primetime," says the study. "The same can be said for documentaries."

Filled with soap
SABC television is awash in soap operas with very little news, according to the study. "The genre that is broadcast most is soap operas at 16% of all broadcasting time," notes the research, "second is educational programming (12%),  followed by current affairs (10%) and drama (9%)". News broadcasts represent only 7% of all airtime.

The study notes that the findings leave question marks over whether SABC3 complies with its mandate to broadcast 7 hours of news per week. "Additionally there's concerns that can be raised about SABC1 and SABC2's airing of documentaries: both stations are required to broadcast 5 hours per week, but figures suggest that both channels fall short".

According to the SABC, the broadcaster will talk with MMA about the research findings. According to spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago the SABC do not agree with many of the findings of the report.

BREAKING. Terrence Jenkins in, Ryan Seacrest out as the new permanent co-anchor of E! News on E! Entertainment from 12 November.

Ryan Seacrest is out at E! News on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) and Terrence Jenkins is in as the new permanent co-anchor along with Giuliana Rancic and he will start co-presenting for E! News from Monday 12 November.

Terrence Jenkins from BET's 106 & Park will take over from Ryan Seacrest who disappeared earlier this year from E! News.

"Coupled with lead anchor Giuliana Rancic's proven experience, [Terrence Jenkins] should help cement E! News' stature as the leading source for news across pop culture," says Cyndi McClellan, E! Entertainment president of network strategy and E! News in a statement. 

Giuliana Rancic has been anchoring E! News since 2005. Ryan Seacrest became an E! News co-anchor in 2006 but was frequently away, most notably during audition phases of American Idol seasons.

Meanwhile Jason Kennedy and Cat Sadler has been named the permanent co-anchors of E! News Weekend.

"Having Giuliana and Terrence for the weeknight program and Jason and Catt for weekends, gives us a quartet of skilled, popular broadcast journalists and will give viewers a fun, fresh look at pop culture," says Cyndi McClellan.

"I've always had a passion for the wide spectrum of pop culture that E! News covers so well," says Terrence Jenkins. "I've had a great career so far, and it's all been building towards this."

ALSO READ: E! News tones it down with a new black and white set.

BREAKING. Whoops! SABC mic mess suddenly has market analyst on the floor and out of shot in live cross-over to the JSE.

You're reading it here first. 

How embarrassing! It seemed like amateur hour when the SABC's SABC News division suffered an embarrassing mic mess live on the air this afternoon on SABC3 when an Absa bank executive disappeared out of live shot, having to grasp at a lapel mic which fell on the floor as the SABC reporter simply looked down on him - literally.

The highly embarrassing incident happened live this afternoon during SABC3's News @ 1 when the bulletin crossed over live to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the stoic SABC business reporter Gunther Deutsch.

Gunther Deutsch was getting ready to interview Absa Private Clients' Chris Gilmour. Just as Chris Gilmour was about to answer, his lapel mic clip-on came loose and the mic fell off.

"Oh! Beg your pardon," said Chris Gilmour as he suddenly hunched our of frame, and went straight for the floor to try and pick up the live mic.  

Meanwhile SABC News stayed on an embarrassing live shot of the JSE backdrop. Viewers saw Gunther Deutsch from the right hand corner of the screen, looking down on Chris Gilmour.

Suddenly a flustered Chris Gilmour popped back up, opting to hold the lapel mic in his hand. To his credit he kept talking and answering Gunther Deutsch's first question.

BREAKING. CNBC Africa opens 9th news bureau in Africa in Rwanda; wants to open bureaus in Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana next quarter.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410) is opening the African business channel's 9th African news bureau in the Rwanda capital Kigali.

"The company's presence in Rwanda marks yet another milestone in CNBC Africa's brief history," says Robert Naidoo, managing director of the ABN Group. "By 2014 we hope to be in 20 African countries, making us the only media company in Africa providing comprehensive business and economic news from across the continent."

Rwanda marks CNBC Africa's 3rd bureau to open this year following Zambia in July and Mozambique in May.

CNBC Africa's other news bureaus are located in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Gabon and Namibia. CNBC Africa plans to open further news bureaus in Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana in the next quarter of this year.

INTERVIEW. Brett Roux, Clifton Shores' new resident TV hunk, on being 'just a giant 4 year old who can't stay still for very long'.

Brett Roux is the Men's Health cover guy who South African viewers will see a whole lot more of from tonight in the 3rd episode of Clifton Shores at 21:00 on Vuzu (DStv 123) and onwards. Yes: romantic entanglement pulls him into the reality show set in Cape Town's most exclusive enclave of sun, sea and surf.

Viewers will see Brett Roux appear virtually sans shirt in every scene (reverse sexism perhaps?) and during the cast's press conference in Cape Town, he wasn't willing to divulge who he happened to hook up with in Clifton Shores. Viewers will have to discover that for themselves.

Last week I asked Brett Roux, clearly Clifton Shores' new resident TV hunk, some questions. I wanted to hear from Brett Roux, who's already admitted he's now constantly being asked to "show abs" - about his gratuitous shirtlessness, how he stays fit, how he ended up being in the show, how American girls differ from South African girls, and what he does when he's not surfing.

Instead of the usual girl candy it seems Clifton Shores has some reverse "guy candy" thing going on. Are you the token male model?
Ha ha. That's hilarious and very flattering but all the male models I know are skinny and about 6 foot 4, so I really don't see myself like that. I think I'm more stereotypical South African male: outdoorsy, healthy and pretty easy going.

How did you happen to land in Clifton Shores and are you going to stir up trouble or will the mere presence of a six pack in itself stir up trouble under the girls?
Claire and I have known each other for ages, so when shooting started she asked me and a few of her friends to join the odd event that the girls from Quintessential were hosting. I always enjoyed being on stage when I was younger and I felt comfortable in front of the camera. I'm passionate about South Africa, so was happy to jump on board with a TV show that's showcasing our amazing country to the world.

You seem very outdoorsy in terms of surfing and things like that? What do you actually do because swimming in the sea don't pay no bills. And what kind of outdoor stuff do you do?
I've worked in music for a long time now. I started in promoting and recently we have just launched a new venture on the production side of things. Essentially we acquire the best talent from around the world then match it with South African movies, ads or brands. Check out www.mcrecords.co.za - I was actually involved in the title track of Clifton Shores.

I'm also a qualified Martha Beck life coach, and am becoming more and more involved in property. I really enjoy psychology and understanding how people tick - it's a huge part of my outdoorsy lifestyle in fact. Body and mind connection is a very real thing and its really the psychological benefit that keeps me trail running, paddling, mountain biking and surfing.
I love pushing myself and moving forward. So that's my excuse. It's either that or I'm just a giant 4-year-old who can't stay still for very long.

You appear to have quite the physique. Is that a prerequisite to be in a show called Clifton Shores, and how hard is it to maintain the buff physique? Also, is the level of gratuitous shirtlessness your idea, or was it the producers' idea and how cold was it while episodes were actually filmed?
I didn't really think about that too much to be honest, the girls are all in great shape but South Africans are generally fit and healthy, so in order to represent South Africa I would need to be a "normal South African guy" and "normal" is fit in South Africa.
I certainly wouldn't stand out on a Cape Town beach. I'm a healthy person and I'm not shy to take my shirt off at the beach. It would be weird if I was on Clifton rocking a turtle neck. But ... I don't enjoy having to "show abs" at press conferences - that's extremely awkward and I really don't want to be "that guy".
During filming it was a big joke in the production team and with the cast to get my shirt off, so I was mostly "gently persuaded". Otherwise remember we shot in summer, so we were all generally in beach gear!

What was the most difficult moment or thing for you in the show that viewers will still see?
I had my first date with one of the girls on the show ... on Clifton ... during summer ... with 15 production guys all watching. I'm not ashamed to say I turned to a bottle of fine sparkling wine and grew myself a personality. I was very nervous, especially because the shot needed the ocean on the background and that meant facing the mountain ... and everyone on the beach.

Interacting with the American girls, how would you say that was different from how South African girls behave?
The biggest thing I noticed was "ability to panic". South Africans are far more relaxed. The American girls freak out easily - food, bugs, hair, rooms, driving, guys ... everything is expressed in a big way. I think South African girls process things more before they communicate it. Kathy was hilarious and brought us hours of entertainment. Kathy is honestly a really sweet girl, but zero filter.

Any emotional moment, awkward moment or surprising moment you were involved in that you didn't expect?
It was always very emotional , surprising and awkward when the sound guys strapped mics to your body.


ALSO READ: REVIEW. Clifton Shores (finally) washes ashore on South African television and what a surprise: It's bright, breezy and well-produced.

Clifton Shores, Vuzu (DStv 123), Tuesdays at 21:00

MEA CULPA. Carte Blanche apologises and retracts a story, can no longer vouch for its veracity.

Carte Blanche on Sunday night apologised to viewers for a story M-Net's weekly investigative magazine show had done in June and said the show can no longer stand by the reporting.

Carte Blanche presenter Bongani Bingwa said the show is retracting the insert since it can no longer vouch for its veracity.

"In June this year Carte Blanche interviewed Alistair Peterson who we and many other believed had gone from jailbird to overnight cyber sensation. After further investigation, we cannot vouch for that story's veracity and we therefore retract that story. We apologize to your, our viewers."

FIRST LOOK. Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 will channel some eighties flourescent blue 'Tron' on 17 November in Soweto.

Channel O's annual Channel O Music Video Awards remains the singularly best organized and executed televised awards show on television on the entire African continent - hopefully the 9th Annual Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 ceremony will once again be a well-produced show.

The new logo for the Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 gives a clear hint that the theme this year will flourescent blue and black - reminiscent of the 80's "Tron" years. The ceremony's creative team gets top marks from me - they consistently year after year come up with playful, extremely well-executed themes out of popular culture to celebrate poplar culture.

The Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 will have 14 categories with nominees from across Africa vying to win for their original African music entries. This year's Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 will take place on 17 November at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, bring the awards show to Soweto for the first time.

"The quality of this year's nominees is testament to the way music videos are playing an increasingly important role in the promotion of African music," says Solly Moeng, Channel O's head of programming. "The impressive videos among the nominees have also contributed to cementing Channel O's reputation as the current leader in music television on the continent and we look forward to taking African music to the future."

Voting has opened and fans can vote until midnight on Thursday 8 November.

Programming note: M-Net Series cuts Jerry Springer down to size; now just shown twice a week and only once by the end of the month.

M-Net Series (DStv 110) has cut the trash talk show Jerry Springer down to size to make space for more varied and better pro-gramming.

Starting this week Jerry Springer will only be broadcast on the channel twice a week and it will get further reduced to only once a week by the end of this month..

A Jerry Springer slots at 22:30 fall away from today. Starting today at 22:30 is the first season of Prime Suspect. That means that Jerry Springer is cut down to only two episodes per week on Tuesdays and Wednesday.

Jerry Springer will go down to only one episode per week from Tuesday 25 September when the 3rd season of Boardwalk Empire starts at 22:30 on the channel. That means that from 26 September at 22:30 Jerry Springer will only effectively have one weekly episode left on Wednesdays at 22:30 from the end of September.

Abbey Makoe appointed as the SABC's new political editor, starting at the public broadcaster today.

Abbey Makoe has been appointed as the new political editor of the SABC, starting today.

"Management under the leadership of Jimi Matthews, the acting head of news and current affairs commenced the process of finding a political editor earlier in the year following years of the position being vacant," says Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesperson.

"Shortlisted candidates were invited to participate in the interview process and it was from there that Abbey Makoe was successful and recommended for appointment."

Abbey Makoe has been the SABC's political editor in 2007 and 2008, but resigned in 2008.

"The appointment of Abbey makoe was a strategic move which will assist the corporation in filling key positions in the SABC's news department with talented and experienced personnel," says Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC's acting chief operations officer (COO). "Management is confident of his ability to execute his set duties and will offer him the necessary support."

"The appointment comes at an opportune time as the SABC will be launching its 24 hour news channel soon," says Kaizer Kganyago. "It also signals the beginning of a new era in the news department, an era of excellence in journalism and news coverage."

Meanwhile the SABC is still without its permanent head of news, Phil Molefe, who can't steer the establishment of the SABC's 24-hour news channel which is being set up with financial help from MultiChoice. Phil Molefe has been placed on "special leave" in April and face a disciplinary hearing with the SABC's CEO Lulama Mokhobo.

Previous dates for the disciplinary hearing has constantly been postponed over the past few months, and no new hearing date has yet been set.