These are the primetime adult television viewing figures for December 2020.
If you can't see the listing below, then click this link to access them in a document instead:
Top Shows on TV: December 2020.
Special Notes
Someone call an ambulance!
South Africa's top shows regularly lose viewership over the December holidays but Skeem Saam's drop is unprecedented.
It lost its position as the country's No.3 show to Scandal! for the first time since it first toppled Scandal! in
September 2014 after it was extended from a weekly drama to a daily show.
It's found itself at No. 4 since then,
when it went to war with Muvhango in November 2015. The two battled it out for the position through 2016 but Skeem Saam bounced back and it's owned No. 3 since early 2017.
We can only conclude that this latest turn of events is for two reasons:
1. The continued impact of Durban Gen, which attracted an Audience Share of 17.5% in December. This means that 17.5% of people who were watching TV at 18h30 on the day were tuned into Durban Gen.
Skeem Saam's Audience Share was 41.3% whereas it was
57.7% in September before Durban Gen started, a decline of 16.4%.
2. The distracted youth over the holidays who were given some freedom after a year of lockdown and intense stress. Could be that Skeem Saam's youthful audience were too busy starring in holiday soapies of their own instead of watching TV.
January will reveal whether this was a factor or not.
The Top 10 soapies in South Africa as at December 2020
| Uzalo |
8,041,490 |
| Generations: The Legacy |
6,858,031 |
| Scandal! |
4,698,809 |
| Skeem Saam |
4,408,258 |
| Rhythm City |
3,744,228 |
| Imbewu |
3,724,787 |
| Muvhango |
3,695,208 |
| Lithapo (Finale episode!) |
1,757,304 |
| 7De Laan |
1,440,289 |
| Gomora |
1,340,306 |
If you can't see the documents above, here's an overview of the Top 5 shows per channel/broadcaster:
SABC1
| Show |
Viewers |
| Uzalo |
8,041,490 |
| Generations: The Legacy |
6,858,031 |
| Skeem Saam |
4,408,258 |
| Sgud'snaysi |
3,638,770 |
| Xhosa News |
3,358,534 |
SABC2
| Show |
Viewers |
| Muvhango |
3,695,208 |
| Ses/Tsw/Sep News |
3,543,116 |
| Music |
2,900,912 |
| Lithapo |
1,757,304 |
| Chicken Run |
1,579,081
|
SABC3
| Show |
Viewers |
| Earth's Great Seasons |
596,656 |
| News |
586,381 |
| Bundesliga Fc Bayern Munchen vs Rb Leipz |
491,769 |
| Amazon:the Lost World |
486,281 |
| Betway Test Series:South Africa vs Sri L |
484,457 |
e.tv
| Show |
Viewers |
| Scandal |
4,698,809 |
| Rhythm City |
3,744, 228 |
| Imbewu |
3,724,787 |
| The Tuxedo |
2,859,277 |
| Johnny English |
2,675,022 |
DStv
| Show |
Viewers |
| Gomora |
1,340,306 |
| The Queen |
1,300,610 |
| Idols SA |
1,207,074 |
| Uthando Nesthembu |
899,049 |
| Our Perfect Wedding |
897,619
|
For an explanation of the TAMS, please see:
The TAMS Ratings Explained.