Recap To The Month: e.tv Reportedly Looking To Replace 7de Laan With New Afrikaans Drama, Could This Be The Final Nail In The Coffin For SABC?

As some readers are aware, SABC decided to cancel 7de Laan after 23 years on air with repeats of Snoozefest Vetkoekpaleis taking up its timeslot. Prior to this, there was a whole debate amongst viewers urging either DStv or e.tv to revive the soap.

Since 7de Laan is technically a product of SABC that makes its almost impossible to consider. Another theory shared by a viewer was the possibility of e.tv looking to ramp up a similar offering seeing as kykNET already has Suidooster and Binnelanders and not everyone has DStv.

According to insiders, e.tv is currently filming a new local drama of course details of a name or plot has yet to be revealed. This drama which will be in Afrikaans (not dubbed) is set for release sometime in the year most likely after Ouma Sarie seeing as it forms a block on e.tv.

Ouma Sarie launched on e.tv in 2023 and is said to be the most watched Afrikaans drama with 1.8 million viewers. This was basically half of 7de Laan's viewers and even shows like Droomvelore and Die Vreemdeling which serve as imported content had more viewers than 7de Laan.

During the week, it was reported the public broadcaster would be moving their Afrikaans programming on SABC 3 (excluding Vetkoekpaleis). With rumours swirling around that SABC would be cancelling further Afrikaans programs across their channels.

Although SABC denied such allegations the public broadcaster hasn't introduced any new content in that area. With the cancellation of FOKUS, the public broadcaster was warned that further alienation of Afrikaans programming would lead to a loss of viewers and advertisers.

Following the cancellation of 7de Laan, Nuus now serves as the most watched Afrikaans program on SABC 2 currently in the top 10 with 500,000 which is 300,000 less from 7de Laan. This move to SABC 3 would lead it to lose its ranking with audiences fleeing.

It's not just the channel but the timeslot to be direct 20:30 which is where consumers are probably tuning to their Turkish stories on eExtra or other local content on kykNET.

Vetkoekpaleis as mentioned is also being brutalized with its viewership sitting around 500,000 (300,000 drop) while 7de Laan bowed with 800,000 viewers. With e.tv rolling out this drama in the coming months consumers of Vetkoekpaleis will likely revert to e.tv once it launches.

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