Top Shows on TV: November 2018

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Primetime TV Viewing Figures on 11 Dec 2018
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These are the primetime adult television viewing figures for November 2018.

If you can't see the listing below, then click this link to access them in a document instead: Top Shows on TV: November 2018.

Special notes

Mzansi not-so-Super League?

After the MSL started on SABC3, news reports claimed that the viewership for the opening match between the Jozi Stars and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants on Saturday, 17 November 2018 was 1,655,546 unique viewers.

See this article on Sport24: Mzansi Super League a hit with TV viewers.

As you can see, this is a RADICALLY different number from the 415,827 viewers stated in the above TAMS for the game.

Multiple other outlets carried the news, with ESPNCricInfo stating that 3.4 million unique South African viewers tuned into the four opening games (Friday, 16 November to Sunday, 18 November) - a very different story from the one in the above SABC3 TAMS.

Both ESPNCricInfo and Sport24 quote Nielsen Sport as the source of the numbers.

This means that either these TAMS from the Broadcast Research Council are incorrect or the stats mentioned in the press coverage of the tournament are inflated.

Imbewu's seed grows more dangerous for Rhythm City
Not long now and Imbewu: The Seed will overtake Rhythm City. This is the closest they've been, with a difference of 431,363 viewers between them.

If you're unable to see the either of the TAMS documents, this is an overview of the Top 5 shows for each channel/broadcaster:

SABC1

Show	Viewers
Uzalo	9,719,901
Generations: The Legacy	8,560,513
Skeem Saam	6,707,465
Xhosa News	4,318,848
Zulu News	4,071,814

SABC2

Show	Viewers
Muvhango	5,760,047
7de Laan	2,669,590
Tlharantlhope	1,984,576
Speak Out	1,692,033
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards	1,622,501

SABC3

Show	Viewers
Isidingo:the Need	1,123,182
The Bold and the Beautiful	638,400
Safari Live	627,320
Top Billing	610,141
Mrs South Africa	607,382

e.tv

Show	Viewers
Scandal	5,989,406
Rhythm City	4,156,397
Imbewu: the Seed	3,725,034
The Fast and the Furious	2,937,741
The Fast and the Furious:Tokyo Drift	2,859,447

DStv

Show	Viewers
The Queen	1,564,319
Idols	1,270,450
Our Perfect Wedding	1,254,955
Isibaya	1,066,894
The Imposter	908,660

For an explanation of the TAMS, please see: The TAMS Ratings Explained.

Channels in this post: SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv, Mzansi Magic, Mzansi Wethu, SuperSport HD

8 Comments

Goku
11 Dec 2018 13:49

Lol Imbewu is not here to play..... bt consistency is key

TVSA Team
11 Dec 2018 14:21

Just in from e.tv... according to the channel, Imbewu reached over 4-million viewers on Thursday, 6 December after the secret reveal.

Let's hope the December BRC TAMS match up with the number so we don't have another MSL situation. They did when e.tv announced that Scandal! reached over 5-million viewers so we'll see.

qavile
11 Dec 2018 14:55

s/o to imbewu. so mzansi magic has more numbers than sabc3 wow. sabc3 should be a sports channel

Tashi
11 Dec 2018 15:09

! qavile - I agree 100%. I've been wanting to write an article about it. It would solve so many problems and would be a much better business plan.

TVSA Team
11 Dec 2018 17:15

TVSA Team edited on
12/11/2018 5:23 PM

We've found the original source of the 3.4 million viewers claim - this press release by SABC Sport: MSL ATTRACTS LIVE TV AUDIENCE IN EXCESS OF 3.4-MILLION ON OPENING WEEKEND

Sport24 copied and pasted it word for word.

SABC Sport's reporting of the stats is based on different parameters from the ones considered to be industry standard which are used by the BRC in their monthly reports.

Industry standard is to report average viewership for adults aged 15+.

The press release uses the Unique audience 5-minute stat instead of average viewership, which means that people could have tuned in for five minutes and left and they've still been counted as a viewer.

This stat doesn't give an accurate view of how many people actually watched the match.

Their report also includes children from age 4 but the industry standard is to report adults 15+.

Snapple
11 Dec 2018 17:18

@qavile, the problem with that is the SABC is a public broadcaster. They have to accommodate all demographics. The awkward part is that this particular demographic they're catering to doesn't care to watch the channel. I don't see a sport channel in place of SABC 3 ever.

I would've preferred season 2 of Mina Nawe on that slot. Even the repeat is doing great in the top 10.

Imbewu is growing in leaps and bounds. Never saw it coming because the show is on so late. Great for them.

The Fergusons have the good lord's favour because The Queen storylines does not deserve those numbers. It's lowkey my favourite show, but I just hate how they are not doing enough story wise. They start and drop stories in the middle. It's like they're overwhelmed.

qavile
11 Dec 2018 18:21

Well isidingo is gr8 but i don't think the numbers will ever improve unless the soapie goes to sabc1 @19:30 cz it's not fair for those actors. i would sack all those sabc3 shows excluding RealTalk cz azania is doing 100times better anele although numbers are low . well i just find mzansi magic shows overrated and boring. . i can't even finish 1episode of TheQueen .. i really like Diamond city on sabc1 ..

The Sunel
12 Dec 2018 02:08

The Sunel edited on
12/12/2018 2:10 AM

I find Mzansi Magic shows being so overrated at times, that 'The Queen' drama has no gripping or fascinating storyline it's just boring and flat, the only better local series on that channel right now is 'Housekeepers' the rest is trash. Imbewu: The Seed is growing on the other side i find my self watching the show every night, now that's the most well-produced telenovela in 2018 followed by 'The River' which i hope they don't turn it into a soapie, those numbers are well deserved for e.tv

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