Skeem Saam replaced troubled Generations on SABC1 on Wednesday, 1 October in what can only be described as The Biggest TV Schedule Change in the history of South Africa.
While Generations picks up the pieces after
the crisis, Skeem Saam has been settling into it's primetime 20h00 spot and it's handling the responsibility very well if the first five days are anything to go by. It's doubled it's viewership and it's managed to hold it's own against Generations in the timeslot.
Viewership isn't as high as for Generations which was to be expected. No show could step in as it's replacement and own the ratings. The final episode of Generations on Tuesday, 30 September attracted huge ratings: 8 439 708 viewers tuned in for it.
Skeem Saam made it's 20h00 debut the following night with 6 886 533 viewers. 1.5 million viewers less but approaching 7 million which makes it the new number one show in the country.
Here's what happened next:
| Date |
Average viewership |
| Wednesday, 1 October 2014 |
6 886 533 |
| Thursday, 2 October 2014 |
7 191 339 |
| Friday, 3 October 2014 |
6 109 955 |
| Monday, 6 October 2014 |
6 965 486 |
| Tuesday, 7 October 2014 |
7 092 768 |
The latest figures currently available.
Most dramatic to note is how Skeem Saam doubled it's viewership on the majority of days. When Skeem Saam is on at 18h30 it attracts 3.5 million viewers.
Will it sustain these ratings throughout it's two month run at 20h00? How will viewers respond with time? Will it take large numbers of new viewers with it when it returns to 18h30?
Keep a watch on our weekly
TAMS ratings which will reveal what happens.
Important to note:
- The ratings reflect the National Universe and are calculated in the same way as the weekly Primetime TV Viewing Figures.
- They represent the standard currency of adults (15+).