TVSA members
spilt that it was going to happen, an industry insider nodded too and now it's been confirmed by the SABC.
Skeem Saam's changing time to 19h30, from Monday 4 March after airing at 18h30 for eight and a half years.
It was originally broadcast at 20h30 for its first three seasons, when it was a weekly drama, but this will be the first time it isn't airing at 18h30 as a daily show.
The impact: it will now be up against e.tv's No. 1 show Scandal! and Mzansi Magic's increasingly popular My Brother's Keeper.
Why?
According to the press release from the SABC:
"The decision to move Skeem Saam to 19:30 is in line with SABC Video Entertainment's strategy to amplify its primetime local drama offering to its viewers from 19:30 to 21:30 with SABC1s Skeem Saam, Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo and SABC2s Muvhango.
The SABC will host two hours of back-to-back drama on the SABC Video Entertainment platform, intentionally targeting a broader audience and ensuring the platform remains competitive."
And this from the SABC1's Channel Head Ofentse Thinane:
"For years, the SABC1 audience has made a plea, requesting to change the Skeem Saam timeslot, stating that the show timeslot is too early for some as the show broadcasts during the travelling time for a lot of the viewers.
For SABC1, we see this as an opportunity to make the channel edgier and braver and adapt to the audience's needs. The world of television is an exciting platform where we should not be afraid to adapt while upholding our responsibility to shape the youth and societal roles."
Followed by the show's publicity manager Sumaya Petersen Mogola:
“A timeslot change in our 12th season will definitely be a big change for us and it is something we will have to adjust to. However, we are positive that the change will give us an opportunity to expand and reach a larger audience. We have great stories lined up, and we can’t wait for our viewers to tune in.”
Interesting to see Sumaya calling it "a big change" because it really is.
There's so much at stake, most especially maintaining audiences who watch the other two shows at the time. How will they choose? Will they be forced into watching one of them online instead if they don't have a PVR or will they stop watching one altogether?
How will it impact on You?