Peta Thornycroft
Audiences have switched off from current=20 affairs programmes on SABC TV, while the=20 public broadcaster has also cut back on=20 time allocated to news behind the news.
Data provided by the SABC shows that in=20 1995, before the channels were re- organised, 255 minutes a week were=20 dedicated to current affairs=20 (Agenda/Newsline) compared with 150 minutes=20 allocated to all the Focus programmes at=20 present.
As advertising revenue sank after the=20 relaunch of the new channels, so anxious=20 schedulers at Auckland Park moved current=20 affairs programmes to later slots and cut=20 some of them. But SABC is not alone in=20 losing audiences for current affairs=20 productions. Pay channel M-Net has also=20 lost viewers in the last year for its prime=20 time current affairs show, Carte Blanche,=20 down from more than five ARs (audience=20 ratings) into the late threes.
With so few news/documentary/current=20 affairs programmes available for Afrikaans=20 viewers, media analysts say it is=20 unsurprising that the Afrikaans Focus on=20 Wednesday nights, anchored by Freek=20 Robinson, has seen increasing ARs from the=20 fours to fives last year to a July score of=20 6,4 ARs.=20
Thursday night’s Q&A has slumped into the=20 twos at the latish slot of 10pm. When it=20 was launched early this year at 8.30pm and=20 chaired by Max du Preez, it regularly=20 scored ARs in the fives.
In 1995 – also a period of more exciting=20 political news – on the old TV1, Agenda in=20 both English and Afrikaans usually scored=20 10 and more ARs, while CCV’s Newsline often=20 got 15 ARs. No news or current affairs=20 shows now attract much more than 10, with=20 Sunday night’s Truth Commission report, at=20 peak viewing time of 8pm, usually=20 attracting ARs of 10 and more.
TV data analysts say there are combinations=20 of factors at play in the decreasing=20 audiences watching current affairs shows,=20 among them re-scheduling to later slots,=20 boring topics, and less compelling=20 political issues. SABC insiders say the=20 corporation’s ever itchy schedulers are=20 busy putting together yet another makeover=20 for current affairs slots for October.
Statistics at the SABC show new black=20 viewers are pouring in, and audiences lost=20 over the relaunch are not only returning=20 but are now following programmes rather=20 than channels.