SABC Unveils Revamped SABC+ Streaming Service

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is proud to announce exciting new launches and features on its Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, SABC Plus. The revamped SABC Plus went live today, with the following launches and features:

SABC Plus Launches:

• SABC Plus Website

• SABC Plus Mobile

• iOS

• Android

• Huawei

• SABC Plus TV Apps/Connected TV’s

• LG

• Set-Top Boxes

• Apple TV (TVOS)

• Google TV/Android Box (The update will be slightly delayed)

New Features:

• New and Improved Interface

• Personalised Recommendations

• Catch-Up Services

• Video on Demand (VOD)

• Voice Command (for content search)

• TV Schedule and Radio Now Playing EPG

• Vodcasts

• Download features available on mobile only.

• Podcasts

• Unlimited Access on Multiple Household Devices

• Display Banners and Video Ads

• EPG Reminder

• The new features are designed to enhance the user experience with a seamless, intuitive interface and personalised content recommendations, ensuring that every viewer finds something they love.

 

In addition, audiences can also enjoy Channel Africa “The Voice of the African Renaissance”, which brings programming in the languages of Chinyanja, Kiswahili, English, French and Portuguese and is broadcast to communities in the African diaspora across the world. Furthermore, the public can access Springbok Radio, Radio Bantu and the youth-based radio station 5 FM extra as well Radio 2000 extra.

Users are urged to re-register with new credentials to easily access the newly revamped SABC+ platform in order to comply with POPI Act.

The SABC Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Ms Nomsa Chabeli says, “The SABC has been at the forefront of fostering diversity and inclusivity through its extensive catalogue of television, radio, and news offerings in the country’s official 12 languages. SABC Plus is our latest innovation, reinforcing the public broadcaster’s commitment to providing the best programming. This platform houses an impressive array of content, including groundbreaking comedies, spine-chilling horrors, and captivating dramas, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of our nation”.

Chabeli further states, “SABC Plus will now be accessible across multiple devices, ensuring that our audiences can enjoy their favourite content anywhere, anytime. Our most beloved brands, including our top-rated radio stations as well as exciting new range of podcasts, will now be just a tap away”.

The SABC has a proud history of being a pioneer in the broadcasting industry, introducing South Africa’s first comedy, horror, and drama series in indigenous languages. With SABC Plus, the organisation is taking this legacy into the digital age, offering a modern, accessible way to enjoy high-quality content that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of our nation. The SABC invites the nation to join us in this exciting new chapter. SABC Plus is more than just a platform; it is a celebration of who we are and where we are going. Stay tuned for more updates and prepare to experience the best of SABC like never before!

Recap To The Week: SABC Unveils A Slate Of Content For Their Channels In The Coming Months Including Wheel Of Fortune SA And Winnie Mandela Doccie In Partnership With Netflix

Not long ago, it was reported that both BBC Studios and SABC had formed a content new deal which would see several content from the BBC fold under two hour block on SABC 3. Prior to this, SABC held a content showcase unveiling several content in the pipeline. 

For SABC 1, they'll be partnering up with Netflix SA on two doccies, The Trials of Winnie Mandela and Just call me Arch. These will be based on the lives of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - no dates have been shared as yet.

Netflix also scooped up The Bold And The Beautiful after the public broadcaster couldn't afford to keep it on air and rivals such as Vodacom Video Play and EVA channel on DStv shuttered. 

Other projects in development for SABC 1 include Sjava's 1 Man Show (15 June), Breaking Down Borders (3 July) and Roxic (8 October). Returning shows include Hotspot Seli (formerly Selimathunzi, 4 July) and The Voice South Africa (28 September).

For SABC 2 and SABC 3, the public broadcaster will be expanding the reality lineup with Wheel Of Fortune SA, Raid The Cage (27 May), Crown Chasers (22 June), Big Day For 2K (June) and Wife Swap SA (1 July) and an untitled popular American game show. 

Returning shows on the channel include The Masked Singer SA (13 April), Taste Masters (23 April) and former e.tv program SA's Got Talent (5 June), Miss SA 2024 (11 August) and Tropika Island Of Treasure (21 September).

This comes after the SABC had axed 7de Laan after 23 years on air with the public broadcaster moving further Afrikaans programs such as 50/50 and Voetspore to SABC 3. This had caused a rift with consumers and the public broadcaster had addressed the matter.

David Makubyane, head of SABC channels, said changes like Skeem Saam moving to a later timeslot on SABC1 and Afrikaans content shunted from SABC2 to SABC3 is because of changing content consumption patterns and the entrance of multiple video streaming services like Showmax, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

"We're not blind to the plethora of competitors and content providers that have come into the space, but we stand firm and believe that the new content offering that we are going to showcase and give to our viewers will really put us into a competitive edge."

Recap To The Month: SABC Education Silently Rebranded Into SABC Festive For The Holidays

SABC Education is a youth oriented brand in which the public broadcaster enlists to distribute a variety of TV based dramas and reality shows. Since 2020, it got a dedicated DTT channel which is basically "another SABC Encore" for the SABC's existing offering.

During the month, SABC launched their festive pop-up channel for a second time in a row. It is basically a youth oriented version to the current Qwest TV seen on DStv with locally produced shows like Afro Cafe and Gospel Classics alongside international favourites like The Comedy Roast.

As seen on the Go Digital and SABC+ platforms, the public broadcaster opted for SABC Education to promote the festivities as opposed to just spinning them off as seperate channels. With SABC Education which would most probably return earlier in the new year.

Taking to account, the mess regarding the potential rollout of the public broadcaster's spinoff/competitor to SABC News, SABC Lehae. Then there's also a possible revival to the SABC Encore format currently viewable on DTT,

SABC Variety.

The SABC even failed to notify consumers that SABC+ will be restructuring their domain (with a dash inserted to the link) as the current structure of the platform looks similar to MultiChoice's DStv Stream app but watershed as only the linear and radio stations are viewable.

SABC+ Undergoes A Major Restructure Which Sees Only TV And Radio Channels Accessible On The Platform, Archived And Third Party Programming Axed

Following SABC's acquisition of the TelkomOne streaming service from Telkom which had since then folded under SABC+. The streaming service has been struggling to garner any traction as seen with local players such as eMedia Investments' eVOD and MultiChoice's Showmax.

The SABC turned to high data prices as the cause for the little consumer consumption. Another reason would be marketing as the broadcaster hasn't invested in any exclusive content for the streamer as the latter has been viewed on their linear platforms with some third parties from Curiosity and Da Vinci.

A few months ago, SABC had removed their shows from MultiChoice's DStv Catch-up service with further content meant to reside within SABC+. 

From 1st December, SABC restructured their streaming service so much so that it doesn't look like a competitor to a majority of existing streaming services available in the market but to only DStv Stream which serves as a wireless version to the current linear platform.

It only features SABC 1-3, SABC Education, SABC Sport, SABC News and SABC Lehae alongside the 19 radio stations. There's currently no catch-up not even a section to view third party shows from Curiosity or an archived section for past SABC productions unless they plan to include that at a later stage.

During the year, they had licensed selected content to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and VIU. Theoretically, it could be possible that they'll licence content to competitors as a means to keep SABC+ sustainable if not abandon the whole streaming regime.

It is very possible that the latter could resurface or get supplemented but that would probably be possible if SABC+ is able to see any growth consumer wise. Otherwise it's current state will look like a watershed version to the existing DStv Stream service.

News Shorts: Reno 911 Returns With A Season 7 Across Africa On Comedy Central, SABC Lehae Has Been Uploaded On SABC+ And uMbali To Make Their Linear Debut On e.tv

Fan favourite series returns to Comedy Central

This partially unscripted comedy brings viewers into the squad car as incompetent officers swing into action, answering 911 calls about everything from speeding violations and prostitution to staking out a drug den. Within each episode, viewers catch a "fly on the wall" glimpse of the cops' often politically incorrect opinions, ranging from their personal feelings to professional critiques of their colleagues.

It starred Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Carlos Alazraqui, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Mary Birdsong, Ian Roberts and Joe Lo Truglio.

Local news in your language on SABC+

Through a brief press release, SABC News was spun off onto a multilingual news channel, SABC Lehae. Resigning exclusively on SABC's DTT, the channel is said to cater for non-DStv or paying consumers which resulted in the abrupt cancellation of SABC News.

Now the channel is currently streaming on SABC+ alongside existing brands such as SABC 1-3, SABC Sport and SABC Education. As mentioned, SABC News is exclusive to DStv meaning that SABC Lehae is now the leading destination for local and global news on the platform.

Mbali is a beautiful township girl with boundless ambition who gets caught on the wrong side of the law

A former teen beauty queen, she has the looks to drive men crazy. But, she is poor and lives in a small backroom in Diepkloof with her mother Phindile, her sister Phumla and daughter Khethiwe.

The family lives off Siya, Mbali’s boyfriend, a criminal who sells Mbali dreams of a lavish life. But when he gets arrested, the family is plunged deep into poverty as their main financial support is lost.

uMbali debuts Thursdays at 10PM from 12 October replacing the second season of Housewives.

Development Alert: SABC Reportedly Registered A New Channel On DTT, SABC Variety

Last month, SABC through a small press release on their website had unveiled their second news channel, SABC Lehae. After losing rights to SABC News, the channel would telecast news segments seen on SABC 1-3 alongside archived material with plans to offer live news.

Prior to that time, it was reported that the public broadcaster was in production of another TV channel with sources suggesting it to be a general entertainment channel which led to speculation of SABC Encore.

Following its demise on DStv, SABC was looking to revive the channel and for 3 years there has yet to be an update on when or if that is still on the cards. They had used it as a pop-up channel on their DTT platforms during that time but other than that nothing until now.

Not long ago, a viewer had spotted a channel on DTT known as SABC Variety which we presume was the rumoured channel the public broadcaster was looking to unveil within the first quarter of 2024. It could be a new name for the long-speculated SABC Encore channel.

The public broadcaster hasn't shared details about the content but SABC+ has a variety section known as SABC Reality for shows like Nyan Nyan, Motswako, Afro Cafe and Spykaart. So we can only assume that this a rival brand to eKasi on eReality, Via, Moja Love and HONEY.

Development Alert: SABC News Has Reportedly Been Blocked From DTT Platforms And Possible SABC+, Replaced With SABC Lehae

During the week, it was reported that the public broadcaster had renewed their agreement with MultiChoice for SABC News. It was also revealed that they officially launched their second news channel SABC Lehae although not much marketing was put to welcome the new channel.

Following the arrival of SABC Lehae, several viewers on SABC's DTT had reported that SABC News is no longer available on the platform cause as viewers browse to view the channel all they get is a coloured screen. So we assume that this new agreement with MultiChoice prevents consumers from accessing SABC News.

SABC Lehae has been added as collateral and likely a backup to SABC News but unlike the pay-tv counterpart it is very much riddled with old programming as well as telecasts of SABC 1-3. We assume the public broadcaster couldn't retain SABC News on their DTT platform for an extended period.

As my hunch suggested previously, SABC Lehae is basically what Zee One is to Zee World but with SABC News - competition. As one brand is confined to a paywall while the other is filtered to its likeness with some variation added every and now then which kind of removes any possibility I had of it being included on MultiChoice's DStv.

If anything, it wouldn't surprise me if the channel were to surface on eMedia Investments' Openview platform to replace the news part of e.tv's News And Sport. As that too was also riddled with repeats and licenced content from various other broadcasters so to speak.

If there's one thing that these recent SABC and MultiChoice developments had suggested there's a lot of beef brewing between the two. Initially, it was reflected on sports but now it's reflecting on other areas of the business with SABC's content removed from catch-up.

Just curious to wonder what's next for these two, my guess would be the carriage of SABC 1-3 as the two had been negotiating for fees but it reached a dead end. Honestly speaking, would it be surprising if SABC 3 were to exit the platform and program changes awaited SABC 1 and 2.

For a while now, SABC had managed to divide the content between platforms and honestly the chances of their channels particularly SABC 3 undergoing a similar scenario wouldn't seem far fetched as the channel hasn't been sustainable and is the least watched amongst the three channels.

What Happened To SABC's Indigenous News Channel, SABC eKhaya?

During the year, the public broadcaster promised to unveil the highly anticipated news brand, SABC eKhaya. A spinoff to the current SABC News channel seen on MultiChoice's DStv, the channel would be broadcast in all 11 South African languages was slated for April 2023. 

We were told by sources that the channel had a soft launch so to better understand this we turn to SABC Sport. The channel was active almost a year or so before it was added to the Openview platform and TelkomOne (now SABC+) and similar to SABC Sport it's not available on SABC+.

If we had to guess, the public broadcaster is probably looking to get the channel on MultiChoice's DStv or eMedia Investments' Openview. We assume they want to give this channel as much exposure as seen with SABC Sport which became the top 10 channels on Openview.

Not much marketing was put into SABC Sport but the channel managed to defy all odds and the same outcome could be expected for SABC eKhaya should it not exclusively to DTT and streaming.

From what we understand they want to make it a leading brand similar to SABC News or it's initial offering at the time, SABC Parliament. For now, the channel will serve as a catch-up to the current offering seen on SABC 1-3 and overtime they could fiddle around with the repeats.

It's currently unknown whether the public broadcaster plans to market SABC eKhaya or similar to SABC Sport wait until they can get more platforms onto the concept.

New Series Alert: Kids News Room Makes A Return On SABC 2

New revamped children’s show Kids News Room (KNR) not to mistaken with Kagiso Media Group's Newzroom Afrika on DStv will be making its return on SABC 2.

The news show for children and is a fusion between education and entertainment, targeted at children between the ages of 7-16 with the aim of reflecting their diversity.

It aims to provide children with a platform to express themselves on how they see the world around them whilst encouraging learning, participation, and an inquiring mind.

It was first broadcast in English on SABC 2 in 2004 under the name Kids News and then migrated to SABC 1 in 2006. The show has now found its way back onto SABC 2 and promises to convey news in an exciting way that will garner the interest of children around South Africa as the show will be delivered in a variety of languages ranging from Sesotho to isiZulu.

The show will be anchored by four presenters who the children will relate to. Bonolo Moahludi (13), Leavante Sheba (16), Ruvarashe Marumo (16), Ayanda Masango (16), Thabelo Makhode (13), Kago Mavunda (15) and Mhlontlo Geleba (22).

Brand and PR Manager, Melba Thompson said: “SABC 2 prides itself on fulfilling its license mandate of informal knowledge building through crafting content that is relevant and relatable to its multigenerational audience. KNR is a prime example of how the channel continuously delivers on providing an immersive family viewing experience.”

The revival of Kids News Room coincides with the public broadcaster plan to rollout a second news channel during the year. The channel would cater to all South African languages including English and would run on SABC's DTT and streaming service, SABC+.

Sentech To Launch Streaming Platform To Rival SABC+

The SABC is Sentech’s biggest client — by far. But that’s not stopping the state-owned broadcast signal distributor from formulating plans to rival the public broadcaster in streaming services.

While the SABC has been without a board for several months, Sentech has been making plans to launch what appears will be a competitor to SABC+, the streaming service launched by the public broadcaster late last year when it took over management and operation of Telkom One, a joint venture it had with Telkom.

News of Sentech’s plans to offer a so-called OTT service (over the top — industry jargon for streaming) emerged in parliament on Wednesday when communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the company will “soon launch a homegrown OTT platform that will be anchored by Nemisa but which will be available to other content producers”. Nemisa is a state-owned non-profit in Ntshavheni’s portfolio that focuses on technology education, including in multimedia production.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over signal carriage fees.

“Our goal is to eventually make this platform the home for quality films, documentaries and children’s stories, in addition to SABC+,” the minister told MPs.

Sentech plans to launch the OTT platform in the first quarter of the 2024 financial year – that’s sometime between March and May this calendar year. A Sentech spokeswoman was on leave and not immediately available to comment further on the platform and its planned content offerings.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over the signal carriage fees the latter charges the former to distribute its terrestrial channels to South African audiences.

The SABC and its commercial free-to-air rival e.tv last year accused the broadcasting signal distributor of excessive pricing and anticompetitive behaviour.

Formal submissions
Their broadsides against the state-owned enterprise were included in formal submissions to communications regulator Icasa, in which they called for urgent regulatory interventions in the signal distribution market to deal with alleged monopolistic abuses by Sentech.

The submissions form part of a market inquiry by Icasa into the signal distribution services market. Sentech has asked that the regulator’s discussion document be withdrawn because, among other reasons, updated legislation to govern audiovisual services is in development and Icasa’s investigations shouldn’t pre-empt these potential policy changes.

E.tv parent eMedia Investments said in its submission to Icasa that it is “deeply concerned at the fact that the issues relating to significant market power in relation to signal distribution services have been ignored for decades”.

Video Entertainment:
- Rumour: SuperSport Schools to get a dedicated channel on the DStv platform
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May
- Paramount+ set to merge with Showtime
- eVOD has yet to offer linear channels as promised in 2021

“This is despite pleas by the broadcasters that the market needed urgent regulation. Indeed, Icasa recognised as far back as 2010 that there was an urgent need to regulate the market due to Sentech’s undisputed dominance,” eMedia said. “Yet Icasa has taken no steps in this regard… All this has been to the detriment of broadcasters and caused them financial harm.”

The SABC also strongly criticised Sentech’s tariffs and behaviour, describing them as “not appropriate or correct”. It said its concerns led to the creation of a “chart of accounts project” at the public broadcaster to determine the fairness or otherwise of Sentech’s fees.

“The details of the various costs per service and per transmission site have been requested from Sentech with the objective of understanding how the structure of the cost for each service was derived. Sentech has not been cooperative in this regard for the past two years,” the public broadcaster alleged in its submission.

The SABC also filed a complaint against Sentech at the Competition Commission in 2021, in which it accused the signal distributor of “unfair and anticompetitive pricing”. 

Reviewing Major Changes Coming Soon To The SABC: The Early 2023 Edition

Throughout most of 2022, I'd say the public broadcaster was silent regarding upcoming developments for SABC 1-3, Sport and Education and after that last minute showcase that was aired virtually I'm more convinced that they're now interested in reinventing themselves.

Earlier in the month, they unveiled a new project known as SABC eKhaya which is set for launch on the DTT platform and SABC+. The project is an expansion of the current SABC News Channel on the DStv platform and also the revamped SABC Parliament channel.

Aside from the new project, the public broadcaster was part of an interview basically discussing some minor aspects of reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC and also briefing readers in on a couple of other aspects I thought readers would find interesting.

SABC:
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal
- SABC Education not launching on Openview

Probably give readers a better understanding regarding some of the questions - new channels.

As mentioned last year, plans are underway to reduce the load of rebroadcasts seen on their 3 channels meaning instead of having Uzalo broadcast on SABC 1 with repeats on the other two channels you'll have repeats air on 1 channel and the other alternative is SABC+.

From what media outlets got from the public broadcaster it could take into affect between now and April 2023.

If I had to guess why these changes haven't taken to affect by now they're probably trying to find other content to put in their place while as changing the timeslots for other content. I mean I don't see any sense in repeating Uzalo more times in 24 hours if the goal is to increase the attention for SABC+.

I mean e.tv once offered two repeat timeslots on weekdays for their longest running soap Scandal and the former musical Rhythm City. Now there's plenty of repeat variety with Elif, Wrede Stad and Verdeelde Liefde.

I do remember them mentioning that SABC 1 would be more youth oriented and SABC 2 would stick to current affairs so maybe more of that will be seen in the blank spaces. As for SABC 3, it will keep moving forward even though some prefer it merging with the other two channels.

Other aspects discussed had to do with SABC Sport, for several decades it was long stated SABC 1-3 will be more like e.tv which is general entertainment and if you wanted to view soccer, cricket and netball you needed SABC Sport.

The problem with getting there had to be the demise of analogue TV. The government has been delaying for more than a decade already same goes for the chances 7de Laan's timeslot won't be interrupted every now and then.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

Considering that not everyone has access to SABC Sport particularly when they do turn off these signals with others on the likes of DStv and StarSat. The likelihood is that similar to Impact Wrestling on e.tv, viewers will get 2 hours of sports at least as to not drive away viewers.

If this switch happens, I doubt it would be completely over with I'm just not expecting them to use the channels for FIFA as that disrupted their schedule quiet frequently.

Over to the content, we all know that SABC is not ringing in as much dough to get as much content as possible as some report that staff and crew members don't get paid on time.

Now the idea is to also greenlit content exclusively for Netflix and MultiChoice similar to what DreamWorks Animation does with the streamer alongside Peacock and Apple TV+ now they're another alternative for programming.

As for SABC+, the goal right now is to gain enough traction especially after that whole mess with TelkomOne so original ideas isn't in the pipeline for the time being as they're more focused in getting the brand off the ground at this stage.

Conclusion

Despite being past the age of retirement, SABC is proving you can still grow in big boy pants and go through hurdles. It doesn't stop when you're 85, you got to keep moving forward instead of waiting for life to grab you by the balls.

SABC+ Vs. eVOD: The Consequence Of Free-To-View Television

SABC+ and eVOD are both South African based streaming services functioned respectively by the SABC and eMedia Investments. They both offer a limited selection of content part of which can be viewed on their linear counterparts while others remain unseen.

SABC+ is all about celebrating South Africa's rich heritage with offerings such as Generations: The Legacy, Isidingo, Makoti and Noot Vir Noot. Basically a carbon copy of SABC 1-3 and to some extent BBC iPlayer as they bundle various channels and incorporate variety.

They also offer a mixture of international and mostly local content ranging from sports, news, current affairs, reality, wildlife, education, movies and lifestyle.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

eVOD at the moment appears to be the more edgier and modern side to the current SABC+ if you take to locals like Housewives, Splintered Pieces, uMbali and An Eye For An Eye alongside others like Chrysalis, Soete Wraak and Die Vertroueling.

Kind of like SABC+, they also a mixture of content ranging from telenovelas, reality, movies, kids shows and doccies.

eMedia Investments:
- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments plan to combat load shedding get a lot of attention
- Ultraview Pride and Ultraview Indian coming soon to Openview
- Could SABC be unveiling another two channels for Openview Ultra?
- Glow TV to stop airing on the Openview platform from next month

The only downside to SABC+ is the lack of first run content basically anything on the platform is viewable elsewhere. As for eVOD, there's not much in terms of reality shows, international dramas and kids shows I mean some content is duplicated in other areas.

In short, eVOD puts themselves in a competitive position if you're browsing for telenovelas and films while as SABC+ excels in other fields such as live TV, sports, wildlife, news, children's programming etc.

SABC Launches Second News Channel Formerly Known As SABC Parliament In April 2023

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will offer the public service broadcaster’s first ever 24-hour news channel in African languages in April 2023. In addition, this channel will offer an extensive coverage of parliamentary proceedings.

The launch of this channel is in line with the SABC’s public mandate obligation, for the provision of universal access, as enjoined by the relevant legislation governing the SABC.

The imminent launch of this channel reinforces the SABC’s pivotal role in facilitating social cohesion, by providing a wide range of programming that caters for the needs of the entire society. The SABC is also driven by the three key principles in its news delivery and value proposition: the principle of inclusion, deliberation and opinion formation which are aimed at empowering citizens to be part of participatory democracy, despite their socio-economic status, geographical location and language.

The channel, which is not new, was acquired in 2018 and publicly accessed through the DTT platform from 2019, offering parliamentary proceedings exclusively. In line with the SABC’s governance framework, a business decision was made to reposition the channel to offer more than parliamentary proceedings and include bulletins and current affairs in African languages. This channel will continue to broadcast on DTT and will be added on the public broadcaster’s OTT platform.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

The SABC’s Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Mr. Moshoeshoe Monare stated that “This is our response to the demand from millions of our viewers yearning for extensive news coverage and a dedicated channel in their own languages. The response from our viewers was phenomenal and this is not a replication of our English news channel. We are telling different stories of our communities and reflecting people’s aspirations in their own languages.”

Monare further stated that “This public news service is an added platform to serve mainly communities that are not necessarily reached by mainstream commercial media. These are millions of viewers who wait until evening, to watch less than half an hour bulletins in their own languages. SABC News is well positioned to rise to this challenge, because of its decades of experience in public broadcasting in indigenous languages”.

The SABC reiterates its commitment as the country’s only public service broadcaster, to fulfil its constitutional mandate of delivering news and current affairs content that reflects the diverse South African society.

All the details pertaining to the channel will be revealed soon.

SABC Parliament Scrapped For New Indigenous News Channel In Your Language SABC eKhaya With SABC Children Likely Canned With No Clue On SABC Encore

Two years ago, the public broadcaster introduced SABC Education a free-to-air channel currently available on SABC's streaming service SABC+ and DTT platforms. Thereafter came the official launch of eMedia's top 10 channels on Openview, SABC Sport.

eMedia Investments and the SABC promised their consumers three yet to be launched channels of which one currently resides on the Openview platform which is the already mentioned SABC Sport but further details of the other two channels remain a mystery.

During that fast for new SABC channels, the public broadcaster had been experimenting on two channels SABC Encore and SABC Children with SABC Parliament going through development hell as further testing had reportedly been 80% to 95% finished.

SABC Parliament and SABC Children were part of the public broadcaster's failed DTT plans while one was stuck on development hell the other alongside SABC Education had been streaming on the Tuluntulu app for sometime.

SABC Encore had a controversial time on the DStv platform in which talks of a revival were still underway as a space has still been reserved for the brand on DTT.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

The public broadcaster seeking to reinvent themselves scrapped SABC Parliament for a multilingual news channel which carries current affairs. The same content they want to burden off on SABC 2 to not make it look like an S3 duplicate.

To top it off, they still have schedule disruptions with the current 3 SABC channels when live matches are on despite the existence of SABC Sport which was meant to rectify that and will continue to do so unless possibly analogue kicks the can.

With the launch of this upcoming news channel, one has to wonder what has or what will become of the tested SABC Encore and SABC Children. Several tests have been done for a possible new channel and it's uncertain if these are the channels they opt to have onboard.

eMedia Investments is waiting on 2 more channels with MultiChoice waiting on 3 to replace the red brand's channels which are bundled on their platforms for 6 months due to court proceedings.

If this new channel happens to be one of the new channels for both brands it means both consumers are awaiting for just 1 channel.

SABC:
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal
- SABC Education not launching on Openview

As mentioned, SABC Education had been active for 2 years and talks for the channel have been under wraps as both MultiChoice and StarSat have finalised the necessary details about the channel and even reserved space for the brand on their platforms.

I doubt the channel is coming to Openview as the deal was for SABC Sport and two other channels. I mean I don't see any reason why they couldn't have added SABC Education much earlier if it was the second channel consumers were awaiting for.

As for MultiChoice, they don't seem at all interested in acquiring SABC Sport as they already have SABC Education running through the test channel section and why would they want a channel like SABC Sport that might as well force more consumers to downgrade.

Taking that to account, it means both eMedia Investments and MultiChoice are waiting for one more channel which could be SABC Encore, SABC Children or whatever remains of either channel but the likelihood is that SABC Children had been scrapped.

An SABC 1 test card had been registered and often consumers on Openview and the former TelkomOne streaming service had spotted the SABC Encore banner on the most watched channel in South Africa which is all the more reason to believe SABC Children is dead.

The public broadcaster was more hyped about reviving SABC Encore as opposed to launching a preschool addition to SABC Education. SABC Encore even had a dedicated kids block so either way SABC Children would still be a thing even if not through a channel.

Adult and families dominate television households and even kids latch onto that lifestyle but change the roles you find only a portion of adults would watch something like JimJam. It's not that kids entertainment is performing poorly its just that some audiences prefer more mature content.

Reviewing Major Changes Coming Soon To The SABC

Last month, the public broadcaster was all buzz hosting a last minute showcase where they transitioned to video entertainment announcing further content for their current channels on top of launching SABC+ in place of the former TelkomOne streaming service.

Of course, what remains absent is the two entertainment channels announced in partnership with eMedia Investments last year. Just like SABC+, sources mention that those channels had already entered final stages a while back.

Honestly, it doesn't appear that they'll be anything time soon but with these recent adjustments. It's possible that they'll likely bring them up in the near future or as soon as most of these developments are dealt with.

As mentioned, the SABC has shared a couple of things in which we want to brief everyone on:

* The public broadcaster is heading for another loss making year with R608 million which has just tripled from last year R201 million.
* They failed to hit their targets in terms of commissioning, producing and broadcasting fresh content with most of the blows going onto SABC 1. All 3 channels target 20% of which the top channel reaches 4% with the second channel 14% and least watched 9%.
* The SABC is expected to make a chunk of cash through their newly launched streaming service, SABC+. R6 million in one quarter alongside R31.5 million in the next quarter.
* The revenue for their 3 channels has been negatively impacted following the cancellation of analogue signals.
* SABC+ has about 15000 signups on a daily basis can't say it's surprising considering that they have the most accessible channels in South Africa.
* A new loyalty programme might be in works the aim is to boost the number of TV Licence payers.
* Still bickering want MultiChoice to pay for their 3 channels although other outlets like Openview view them freely.
* A budget for their channels had been shared with the media. From what's known R468 million had been budgeted for which 218 million is spent and R665 million is earned on SABC 1, R141 million is spent and R199 million earned on SABC 2 and lastly R69 million is spent and R79 million is earned on SABC 1.
* SABC 1 will focus more on sourcing youth based content while SABC 2 transitions to current affairs and news.
* They'll be cutting back on the amount of social media handles we assume that they are also referring to shows like The Epic Hangout which too has a social page.
* A cutback on repeats especially on primetime with the axing of non-performing content. We assume The Estate will be saved despite primetime not being one of the top 20 shows on SABC 3.
* Uzalo remains on SABC 1 and Muvhango remains on SABC 2 - remember how the public broadcaster repeated shows on multiple channels well they'll put a stop to that meaning each primary show will air on their primary channel with SABC+ also filling that gap.
* The public broadcaster in partnership with SABC News is trying to find alternatives to the cancelled Special Assignment on SABC 3.

TelkomOne Vs. SABC+: Transition From International To Local Entertainment

Earlier today, TelkomOne without prior notice announced that they'll be unavailable for the rest of the day and left a cryptic message to their subscribers while as SABC has gearing up for the rollout of their long awaited streaming service, SABC+.

Moments later, it was discovered that TelkomOne would be shutting down and that SABC will fill the gap that Telkom would leave several of their subscribers so here's an overview.

TelkomOne alongside SABC+ are both based in SA and managed by different parties. If anything, their parties formed an agreement where one would leverage from the other in exchange for money so in this case is it really shocking as this was bound to happen.

I mean MTN, Cell C and Vodacom all joined the streaming game and backed out so why not Telkom in this case.

TelkomOne featured a variety of international content particularly premium channels like Real Time, Toonami, Discovery Science and EWTN all of which are likely dead at this point following the acquisition by the public broadcaster.

From what sources stated about SABC+, it would be similar to BBC iPlayer in the UK so basically another DStv App which comes with SABC 1-3, Sport and Education alongside their 19 radio stations and archived material.

If you study the facts carefully, basically all the content TelkomOne picked up without a linear channel will be compensated with archived content while as the linear channels such as Discovery Science will be supplemented with SABC 1-3.

Considering how many linear channels they were at the time my guess would be that they'll add a few more channels to the lineup just not as much as that of TelkomOne.

While as TelkomOne offered Toonami and Boing with SABC+ the likelihood is that consumers will get SABC Education and the rumoured Tuluntulu channel, SABC Children while as The Home Channel and Discovery Science and France24 would be compensated with SABC Encore and SABC Sport.

SABC Children and Encore were rumoured for about a year and I'm not saying these are the channels but you find plenty of global streamers like Paramount+ use several of their existing shows and forming a digital channel within the platform to promote the content.

The idea of SABC doing such doesn't seem far fetched especially after what happened last year as they stated Openview's upcoming channels would be repeat channels which is what SABC+ is all about.

During the years, I assume the public broadcaster took some notes from MultiChoice's Showmax and eMedia Investments' eVOD and will include Fast Forward or simulcast broadcasts to some of their properties.

Over to whether SABC News will be seen on SABC+ that's a definite maybe should it be included it won't be available elsewhere unless it's a product of MultiChoice which gives the brand stability.

All in all, viewers have to tune in tomorrow to see what else SABC has in store.

But from what was implied about it several times it's just a reduction to TelkomOne so I'm assuming some consumers will opt to cancel while those viewing the free version will latch onto the platform for the time being either way I can see it ending in a positive and negative manner.

TelkomOne Rebranding Into SABC+

Telkom is exiting the streaming media business. The telecommunications operator has agreed to “hand over” its TelkomOne platform to the SABC, which will rename it SABC+.

The TelkomOne website has been taken down and replaced with this message: “Your TelkomOne entertainment service will be temporarily unavailable until Thursday, 17 November 2022… Watch this space for a new and exciting announcement.” Meanwhile, the website www.sabcplus.com has gone live.

“Telkom and the SABC have had a successful partnership since the launch of TelkomOne in late 2020. The platform has now matured and ready to scale under the management of the SABC’s broadcasting expertise,” Telkom said in a statement.

Telkom and the SABC have had a successful partnership since the launch of TelkomOne in late 2020.

“Their expertise in sourcing and curating relevant content will enrich the current content library for existing and new customers,” said Telkom chief marketing officer Gugu Mthembu in the statement.

The entire customer base will be shifted over the SABC.

“We will continue to evolve to our digital lifestyle provider ambition through our investments in areas such as content, fintech, gaming and IoT by partnering with strategic partners to deliver products and services that create a better life for our customers,” Mthembu said.

Telkom said existing TelkomOne Amp customers with active subscriptions will automatically have access to SABC+ at no additional cost. “They can also look forward to enhanced content offerings which they can subscribe to directly through SABC+.”

Background

Telkom and SABC launched TelkomOne is November 2020 to house the public broadcaster’s free-to-air radio and television channels on a streaming platform.

The deal, which had a five-year term, would “showcase South Africa’s most-watched TV programmes and most listened-to radio platforms, on one online platform”, the companies said at the time.

The SABC agreed to provide its content to Telkom on a non-exclusive basis. In exchange, the SABC would receive a carriage licence fee as well as a share in the advertising revenue generated on the TelkomOne platform.