Share

SABC: Repeats will be replaced with local content

Cape Town – The SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng told TV producers that there's "more and more repeats on our channels" but that the public broadcaster is planning to lessen the rebroadcasts littered over its TV schedules and to replace it with more local content soon.

Motsoeneng took the stage on Wednesday at the public broadcaster's Auckland Park headquarters to tell existing as well as aspiring TV producers that he will be making R1bn available for the production of new local TV content for the SABC's planned "language-based" digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels.

He told the producers crammed into the auditorium that the SABC sees no sense in continuing to broadcast American soap operas.

"There's no reason why we have to broadcast these American soaps and dramas the SABC’s famously matricless executive told the audience, saying that "you will notice that there's more and more repeats on the channels". 

According to him the SABC wants to cut down on repeats by commissioning more local content from local producers – especially from all of the country's different provinces.

Motsoeneng also wants to speed up the process of commissioning local content and said the SABC has decided to ditch its Request for Proposals or so-called RFP book, in favour of hearing from producers what shows they want to make and think should be on the SABC.

"It is for you as specialists in this industry, what are the problems that you are facing? We depend on you and the day I'm going to enjoy my life is when I see all African languages are catered for in all this platforms," said Motsoeneng.

‘Your townships and your township heroes’

"We want you to talk about your townships and your township heroes," he told the crowd, while Aguma told South African TV producers that "we need to stop bench-marking ourselves with the international market".

While some TV producers, especially emerging producers welcomed the SABC's promise of R1bn to be funneled into new "language-based" TV content creation, some TV producers expressed doubts and fears, especially over the SABC's decision to scrap its use of issuing a RFP book to the industry.

The acclaimed film producer Rehad Desai said scrapping the RFP will spell the end of South Africa's independent TV production sector.

"Many of us have spent many years of our lives fighting for the SABC to commission, license and co-produce independently produced local content – local content that speaks to the truths of people's lives."

"We have done so because we believe in the power of well-produced TV and we hold this is the only way to produce a diversity and plurality of voice and yes to build our democracy. No RFPs‚ however badly managed‚ will spell the end of what is left of independent production sector."

Besides its existing SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 channels as well as the SABC News and SABC Encore channels produced for MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the SABC now plans to create further new channels for its envisioned DTT bouquet.

These include a SABC Sport channel, and several language-based" TV channels including a Sotho channel, a Nguni channel, a Tsonga channel and an Afrikaans language channel.

The SABC that made a R395m loss for its last declared financial year has not yet explained where the R1bn is coming from to pay for new local content that the broadcaster wants to invest in new emerging and aspiring TV producers. 

Insiders are also wondering why the SABC wants to expand its number of TV channels when its struggling to grow the viewership market share and reach of its existing channels, and why more is not being done to first improve the quality of programming and content as well as the profile of its existing channels.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE