Uzalo and Generations: The Legacy are switching times from Monday 27 July 2026, suddenly and out of the blue.
Or is it?...
The SABC says they're refreshing the SABC1 line-up but haven't given a reason for the radical swapping of times.
This is the release:
Uzalo and Generations Trade Places as SABC 1 Refreshes Prime-Time Line-up
SABC 1 confirms that from Monday, 27 July, Uzalo will now air at 20h00 followed by Generations: The Legacy at 20h30 on weeknights.
The change does not affect either programme's primetime status. Uzalo, watched by millions each night, moves into the 20h00 slot, while Generations: The Legacy, one of the country's most enduring television brands, will now close SABC 1’s prime-time drama block at 20h30. The last word in primetime, five nights a week.
Ofentse Thinane, SABC 1 Channel Head said: "Uzalo and Generations built these evenings together, and both remain exactly where they belong, at the heart of SABC 1 prime time.
From 27 July, they simply trade places. Viewers will continue to enjoy both programmes back-to-back. Generations: The Legacy is not stepping out of prime time. It is closing it."
SABC 1 Weeknight Drama Line-up from Monday, 27 July:
• Skeem Saam - 19h30
• Uzalo - 20h00
• Generations: The Legacy - 20h30
There is more on the way. When the new line-up begins on 27 July, SABC 1 will be giving viewers something to look forward to every night of the week. Full details on Monday, 27 July.
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As you can see, it skirts the issue and doesn't give an explanation as to why.
It has to be a cause and effect situation because Gen's 20h00 timeslot
is the show. It's aired at 20h00 for the majority of its 32-year history.
It aired at 21h05 when it first premiered on CCV-TV before SABC1 existed but its always aired at 20h00 since its been on SABC1, except when it went off-air during the Generations 16 fiasco.
What's happened that might have caused this?
The Four of Us with all its big stuff Netflix hype premiered on e.tv last month, in Generations' timeslot.
If this is the reason, SABC1's throwing Uzalo to the wolves and trying to save Gen.
Or they're giving Uzalo a chance to be competitive in the timeslot if Gen isn't succeeding in doing the job.
The whole shebang screams déjà vu to what happened with Scandal! when it was forced to move after Skeem Saam changed to 19h30.
Of course there's no way of getting legitimate ratings from an objective third party custodian of the ratings - or the irrelevant BRC - so there's no way of getting a true perspective on what's happening with the numbers with Gen and The Four of Us.
Therefore we can only deduce and this is what we believe has happened. Do you think so too?