Major Scheduling Changes Coming To SABC3

Written by TVSA Team from the blog News on 15 Apr 2008
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While the channel hasn't officially released the news, TVSA can confirm that there will be numerous scheduling changes across SABC3 over the next couple of weeks.

The most notable line-up changes effect Wednesday and Thursday nights.

As things currently are, Wednesday night Primetime has been reserved for big international fan favourites such as Heroes and Jericho and Thursdays have been reserved for local SA content - these differentiations will disappear and Thursday will feature the cult shows instead.

The first season of Prison Break - which was originally scheduled to replace Jericho after this weeks Finale - will now replace the 26-episode Known Gods and premieres on Thursday, 8 May at 20h31.

According to a source the main reason for this is that e.tv's WWE Smackdown! on Wednesdays at 20h30 has proven to be too fierce a competitor to these flagship shows.

Jericho will now be replaced with the popular UK con-caper Hustle on Wednesday, 23 April at 20h31.

Seasons 1 and 2 of the four season series were broadcast on the channel in 2005/2006 in the Monday night Las Vegas/Desperate Housewives timeslot - as yet there's no news whether it will start from the beginning or pick up from Season 3.

Another big Thursday night change is the shift of the SA gig guide Noted. Currently on Fridays at 19h30, the show moves to Thursday nights and will follow Prison Break at 21h30 - date to be confirmed.

Noted's Friday timeslot will be replaced with Hollywood Reporter, which moves from Saturday's at 19h30. No Saturday replacement has been confirmed - we'll let you know as soon as it is.

Also new in the line-up is Hybrid Living - an eco-friendly SA show about how to live a modern lifestyle while going green at the same time. The show was on SABC2 last year on Friday afternoons and has also had featured inserts on 3Talk - it premieres on SABC3 on Wednesday, 30 April at 21h30, replacing the 13-episode Pap and Attitude.

Tuesday night's reality romp remains unaffected by the changes. The Amazing Race makes it's comeback for Season 10 and premiere's on Tuesday, 29 April at 19h30 - after the The Apprentice 4 two-hour finale, which unfortunately goes out across two weeks instead of a double-whammy.

Keep a look out on TVSA for further news and updates, as well as daily premiere reminders.

13 Comments

apex
14 Apr 2008 14:08

This makes a lot of sense!! At least they will have a strong line up on Thursdays.. SABC3 must just bring back Bones and slot it in, and future Apprentice's mustn't interrupt the Survivor/Amazing Race interchange and move to the 20.31 slot. If they would move Heroes to Monday Nights at 21.00 it would be so much better

Renegade
14 Apr 2008 23:57

Hmmm? Does that mean today is not the Apprentice finale?

Toxic
15 Apr 2008 00:09

Noted's Friday timeslot will be replaced with Hollywood Reporter, which moves from Saturday's at 19h30. No Saturday replacement has been confirmed - we'll let you know as soon as it is.

Good news!! i always miss Hollywood reporter on Saturdays!

The Amazing Race makes it's comeback for Season 10 and premiere's on Tuesday, 29 April at 19h30 - after the The Apprentice 4 two-hour finale, which unfortunately goes out across two weeks instead of a double-whammy.

More good news-this means Cloud's recaps aren't so far off afterall!!

Citanul
15 Apr 2008 01:18

This sucks. I'm affected by load-shedding at home on a Thursday, but it didn't matter because I didn't watch anything that was on then. Now I won't get to see Prison Break, which I was looking forward to watching. :-(

I've also just finished watching Season 3 of Hustle on DVD, so its return isn't really such good news.

realist
15 Apr 2008 01:26

At last the amazing race is back.

alex
15 Apr 2008 05:17

Hmm, I can understand SABC3's attempts to counter the wrestling on e.tv on Wed nights. I'm just surprised its taken them this long to do something about it.

I'm happy that they're showing Hustle, although I will be less so if they repeat S1 & 2 again... At least we're seeing a British production again after a very long drought.

Personally, I wasn't really planning on catching Prison Break since I've seen it already, but if the switch means more get to see it, then great coz the show will do very well I think.

I'm not too phased by these changes - coz Tuesday night is where the action's really at :)

>>The Amazing Race makes it's comeback for Season 10 and premiere's on Tuesday, 29 April at 19h30<<

To echo Renegade's query: Is tonight not the Apprentice finale? If so then that means TAR 10 should start April 22.

Citanul
15 Apr 2008 08:38

>>Hmm, I can understand SABC3's attempts to counter the wrestling on e.tv on Wed nights. I'm just surprised its taken them this long to do something about it.<<

I think the decision to put Heroes on a Wednesday night might have been an attempt to counter the wrestling, with the thinking being that it might appeal to a similar audience. Now it looks as though they're trying to offer an alternative to those who might not be into wrestling or Heroes.

>>I'm happy that they're showing Hustle, although I will be less so if they repeat S1 & 2 again... At least we're seeing a British production again after a very long drought.<<

I'd be even happier if they showed Life on Mars...

>>To echo Renegade's query: Is tonight not the Apprentice finale? If so then that means TAR 10 should start April 22.<<

It says in the article that the finale is a two hour one, which will be split over two weeks. Therefore 22 April will be the second part of the finale, and 29 April will be the first episode of TAR.

alex
16 Apr 2008 01:51

>>I'd be even happier if they showed Life on Mars...<<

Hopefully this is a return to more regular British series. As far as I could tell from the Hustle promo I saw yesterday, they will be picking up from season 3.

>>It says in the article that the finale is a two hour one, which will be split over two weeks. Therefore 22 April will be the second part of the finale, and 29 April will be the first episode of TAR.<<

I was under the impression the finale started last week since the final task had already kicked off. So I guess its more like a three-parter.

Citanul
16 Apr 2008 04:53

>>Hopefully this is a return to more regular British series. As far as I could tell from the Hustle promo I saw yesterday, they will be picking up from season 3.<<

Yeah, there was definitely at least one shot from Season 3 there.

Segololo
16 Apr 2008 05:21

As long as noone messes my monday nights! OR worst of all adds, wrestling to the channel - I will not complain!

Bra Bizza
16 Apr 2008 11:13

So looking forward to seeing Hustle again. I've always missed the Hollywood reporter due to The Showbiz Report on e.TV so i'll give it some of my precious tv time.

Lunj
17 Apr 2008 07:47

I'm just glad that the Amazing Race will be back! I mean why did they move The Apprentice to Tuesday nights??

I agree with Apex, Tuesday 19:30 should be for Survivor or for The Amazing Race - The apprentice must shift to Thursday!

apex
18 Apr 2008 05:43

this just in.. from a reliable resource on the internet I found out that The Lab II will move to the Sunday 20.00 Timeslot, Hard Copy III will move to the Saturday 19.30 Timeslot, and as stated in the article thursday nights will comprise of Top Billing, Prison Break then Noted.

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