Local proves ‘lekker’ on the box

If the flood of new shows to have hit our television screens in the first few months of this year is anything to go by, viewers are lapping up local content. 

Gone are the days of being force-fed American culture – instead South Africans are getting to enjoy watching their own stories told.

According to TVSA, OPW has more than a million viewers, with Isibaya hot on its heels with just under a million.

With the increase in local content, Mabece said the channel commissioned and paid for programmes according to their schedule needs.

“We also acquire completed work on a licensing basis where the need arises,” she said.

“In our effort to continuously provide compelling content for our viewers we will be launching a number of new programmes as well as return seasons of South Africa’s favourite shows such as Living The Dream With Somizi, Rockville IV, Greed and Desire, Igazi, Doubt, Ring of Lies and many others,” she said.

When asked about how the shows were financed, and how much the channel set aside to procure local content, Mabece said it was difficult to give a figure as production costs varied from project to project.

“Each drama differs in cost based on location, the cast, the size of the production, how long the programme will be on television, what the story line requires and many other factor that make it difficult to give a ballpark figure,” she said.

e.tv has also risen to the increasing demand for local content with lots of new shows making their debut on the channel.

e.tv’s Marlon Davids said the channel had made a large investment in local content.

Shows such as The Heist and The Kingdom: UKhakhayi recently made their debut on the channel. Next month sees the return of drama series, Z’bondiwe, and The Alliance makes its debut next week. “We strive to deliver content that is relevant to our audiences,” Davids said, adding that e.tv also commissioned programming from production companies.

“We always seek content our viewers can relate to. We have a diverse portfolio when it comes to our offering which ranges from soapies, dramas, reality shows, news and music variety,” he said.

Only time will tell if television viewers will entirely forego foreign content in favour of local. Davids said while there was still an appetite for international content, “our audiences have shown a greater preference for local content”.

“We strive to bring our viewers the best in both local and international content,” he said.

Mabece said as a proudly South African company they were committed to supporting the local industry over international shows.