SABC News is posting significant audience growth numbers across multiple platforms; this follows the recent successful repositioning along with consistent imaging prompted by the need to reaffirm its place as the trusted news content provider in South Africa and beyond.
The bold repositioning of the SABC News brand as an Independent and Impartial news providers has since seen the SABC News Channel (404) on DSTV bouquet grow considerably, according to BRC TAMs (December 2018), achieving a 14 068 (61%) increase of the average monthly market share for the period, June to November 2018 compared to June to November 2017. In the period June to November 2017, the channel obtained an average monthly market share of 21 700 (23%). In direct comparison with the same period in 2018, the SABC News Channel acquired an average monthly market share of 35 768 (37%). The SABC News Channel remains the second highest viewed channel on the DSTV bouquet.
In the Top 30 most viewed programmes on free-to-air channels (FTA) SABC isiXhosa and isiZulu News are ranked in the Top 10, occupying the 6th and 7th spots respectively. Most notably, these are the only news programmes that appear in the Top 30 most viewed on FTA channels.
On its digital platforms, SABC News continues to grow steadily with its YouTube channel (SABC Digital News) nearly doubling its monthly average views from just over 5 million per month in 2017 to almost 10 million views on average per month in 2018.
SABC's talk radio station and news leader; SAfm remains the station with the largest footprint in South Africa. The recent lineup change saw SAfm bring on board and rotate the airwaves' big guns, this in its continued effort to remain the News and Information Leader:
#SAfmSunrise with Stephen Grootes from 06:00-09:00 weekdays continues to be the show audiences look forward to for hard-hitting engagements and informative news of the day. Followed by Bongi Gwala, on The Talking Point from 09:00 – 12:00 with in-depth discussions of the day's topical issues. Criselda Dudumashe's well-rounded approach to daytime radio between 13:00 – 15:00 weekdays is always a treat that the audience can't afford to miss with the life-filled conversations.
Ernest Pillay's upbeat drive time show, The Home Run from 15:00 – 18:00, rounds up the day by keeping the audience abreast of the latest stories and newsmakers of the day.
The Group Executive of News and Current Affairs, Ms. Phathiswa Magopeni celebrated the audience growth. "We are pleased with the audience growth, as we get a sense of assurance that we are on the right track, and continue to strengthen the public news service as the only extensive, all-inclusive, diverse and multilingual news organisation in South Africa, that remains Independent and Impartial."