SABC 3

Last updated
SABC 3
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Broadcast areaFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Network SABC
HeadquartersSABC Television Park, Uitsaaisentrum, Johannesburg, Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Programming
Language(s) English, [1] Afrikaans
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner SABC
Sister channels
History
Launched1991 (as NNTV)
4 February 1996 (as SABC 3)
ReplacedTopSport Surplus (TSS)
Former namesNational Network Television (NNTV) (1991-1996)
Links
Website www.sabc3.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Sentech Channel depends on nearest Sentech repeater

SABC 3, also branded as S3, is a South African free-to-air television channel owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Since March 2024, it carries programming in English and Afrikaans only.

Contents

History

On 1 January 1982, two television services were introduced: TV2 broadcasting in Zulu and Xhosa and TV3 broadcasting in Sotho and Tswana, both targeted at a Black urban audience. [2] The main network, then called TV1, was divided evenly between English and Afrikaans, as before. In 1986, a new service called TV4 was introduced, carrying sports and entertainment programming, sharing the same television frequency used by TV2 and TV3; the new service started broadcasting at 9.30pm. [3]

In 1991, TV2, TV3 and TV4 were merged into a new service called CCV (Contemporary Community Values). [4] A third network was introduced known as TSS, or TopSport Surplus, TopSport being the brand name for the SABC's sport coverage, but this was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), an educational, non-commercial channel, in 1994. [5] In 1996, the SABC reorganised its three TV channels with the aim of making them more representative of the various language groups. These new channels were called SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3.

SABC3 inherited many of its programs from TV1, South Africa's apartheid-era "white" channel. SABC 3 is targeted at South Africa's affluent English-speaking community; the channel's primary target market is viewers aged 18 to 49. It screens a combination of international programming from the United States and United Kingdom, as well as locally produced soap operas, talk shows and drama series.

SABC 3 moved its main news from 8pm to 7pm on 7 April 2003. It was rumoured that the new time was to compete with e.tv's main bulletin, which was on at the same time, but these rumours were denied by Jimi Matthews, who had moved from the rival broadcaster. [6]

The channel's HD broadcasts began on 11 June 2018, in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, alongside SABC 1. As of June 2018, the channel started broadcasting in high definition. [7]

In April 2021, the channel rebranded and is stylised as S3.

Programming

SABC 3 has deals with studio companies in the US and various television networks in the UK to air some series with a few months' delay from their international airdates.

Soapies, dramas and telenovelas

The channel is known for its longest-running soapie Isidingo , and previously aired local dramas such as High Rollers, and popular international soaps Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful , which SABC 3 stopped airing because of financial constraints. This upset viewers fond of the soapie and started a petition to keep the show running. The channel currently offers international dramas such as Knightfall , NCIS , House of Cards , MotherFatherSon , Line of Duty , El Chapo, and Killing Eve . In April 2021, the channel introduced a new local drama The Estate and new telenovelas Orphans Of A Nation , The Bay and The Red Room .

Children and education

The channel has local children's content such as Challenge SOS, Talent on Track, Yum.Me and Hectic on 3, along with and international catalogue of kids and teens entertainment from Disney and Nickelodeon. This includes kids shows such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , Go Jetters and My Friends Tigger & Pooh , as well as teen shows such as Victorious , iCarly , Wizards of Waverly Place , Shake It Up , Cory in the House , Girl Meets World , Sam & Cat , Winx Club , Violetta , Polly Pocket , Kuu Kuu Harajuku , Sanjay and Craig , Henry Danger , Nowhere Boys , Noah & Saskia , Spellbinder , Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord , Mortified , Legacy of the Silver Shadow , Crash Zone and Hectic on 3. Unlike its sister channels, SABC 3 has less programming from the SABC Education banner.

Series

SABC 3 used to license and produce local versions of international series like The Apprentice , The Weakest Link , and Top Chef . The South African adaptions of The Apprentice and The Weakest Link have been off air and out of production for longer than 10 years.

In 2017, Hlaudi Motsoeneng who was then COO of the SABC, decreed that SABC TV stations should broadcast 90% local content. The decree turned out to be unsuccessful, as the local productions were the least watched on the channel. [8] After some time, their flagship international series returned, such as Survivor and The Amazing Race. The channel currently has reality series such as Judge Faith, Ready for Love and Christina Milian:Turned up. The channel also offers nature documentaries from National Geographic and BBC Earth.

In March 2024, SABC 3 announced a partnership with BBC Studios, under which it would broadcast a nightly block on weeknights known as BBC PRIMETIME beginning 1 May, which would feature airings of dramas and factual programmes from its library. The agreement also includes streaming content on SABC+. [9]

Music

The channel also focuses on adult contemporary and urban music and has music specials from local and international artists. Shows like The Mic, Base 3 and Tapestry are aired on the channel. SABC 3 broadcasts Koze Kuse from SABC 1 from August 2019 to April 2021.

Talk and magazine

SABC 3 has a heavy focus on local and international talk and magazines such as the breakfast show Expresso, Afternoon Express , The Real , The Scoop and Harry .

Sports

SABC 3 broadcasts All Cricket South Africa Inbound Tours Of The Proteas Men's Team. It Also Broadcasts The Bundesliga On Weekends, Women's Super League, The Sasol League And The Hollywoodbets Super League. It Also Broadcasts LFC TV On It's Sports Show Sports Arena Including WSB Horseracing, Formula E, FIA WRC, Extreme E And Sports Highlights. The Channel Also Provides Overflow Space For CAF Competitions And Premier Soccer League Matches. It recently started broadcasting the Premier League.

News and current affairs

SABC 3 serves the bulletin news for English speakers, simulcasting news broadcasts with their SABC NEWS CHANNEL for On Point, Monday to Friday @ 13:00, NEWS @ 8, Monday to Friday @ 20:00 & NEWS In 15 Minutes, Weekends @ 18:00. It also broadcasts Afrikaans News, Monday to Friday @ 20:30 & Weekends @ 18:15. SABC 3 also broadcast Deutsche Welle & DW News all the way from Germany in English.

Movies

The channel provides action, horror, drama, comedy, sci-fi, adventure, thriller, romance and fantasy movies during primetime. SABC 3 is well known for broadcasting popular Bollywood movies in their original Hindi & Tamil soundtrack.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sveriges Television</span> Swedish national television broadcaster

Sveriges Television AB, shortened to SVT, is the Swedish national public television broadcaster, funded by a public service tax on personal income set by the Riksdag. Prior to 2019, SVT was funded by a television licence fee payable by all owners of television sets. The Swedish public broadcasting system is largely modelled after the system used in the United Kingdom, and Sveriges Television shares many traits with its British counterpart, the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television in South Africa</span>

Television in South Africa was introduced in 1976. The country is notable for the late introduction of widespread television broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SABC</span> State-owned public broadcaster in South Africa

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations (AM/FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's state-owned enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ</span> New Zealand state-owned television network

Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air and commercially funded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SABC 1</span> South African television channel

SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). It broadcasts programming in English and Nguni languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SABC 2</span> South African television channel

SABC 2 is a South African free-to-air television channel owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Three, stylised as +HR=E, is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989 as TV3, it was New Zealand's first privately owned television channel. The channel currently broadcasts nationally in digital free-to-air form via the state-owned Kordia on terrestrial and satellite. Vodafone also carries the channel for their cable subscribers in Wellington and Christchurch. It previously broadcast nationally on analogue television until that was switched off on 1 December 2013.

Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription, other ongoing cost, or one-off fee. In the traditional sense, this is carried on terrestrial radio signals and received with an antenna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting</span> Iranian state-owned media company

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting or Seda va Sima for short, formerly called National Iranian Radio and Television until the Iranian revolution of 1979, is an Iranian state-controlled media corporation that holds a monopoly of domestic radio and television services in Iran. It is also among the largest media organizations in Asia and the Pacific region and a regular member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Its head is appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV1 (Malaysian TV network)</span> Television channel

RTM TV1 is a Malaysian free-to-air public television channel owned and operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia, a broadcasting department of the Malaysian Government. Launched on 28 December 1963, TV1 is the first and oldest TV station in Malaysia. The channel features mostly news, talk shows and documentaries and some in-house, local and international kids, drama and sports programming.

e.tv South African free-to-air television station

e.tv is the first and only privately owned free-to-air television station in South Africa. It is the fifth terrestrial television channel in the country, following three channels that are operated by the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation and the privately owned subscription-funded M-Net. In 1997, the e.tv channel bought the broadcasting rights to broadcast English Premier League (EPL) matches and, later on, they also bought the rights to broadcast UEFA Champions League matches.

<i>7de Laan</i> South African soapie

7de Laan was a South African Afrikaans soap opera created by Danie Odendaal and produced by Danie Odendaal Productions. The series focuses on the lives of residents in and around the community of 7de Laan, in the suburb of Hillside. The programme's dialogue is primarily in Afrikaans and was subtitled in English with some English and Zulu dialogue in between. The show was cancelled in July 2023 and its final episode aired on 26 December 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Televisyen Malaysia</span> Public broadcaster of Malaysia

Radio Televisyen Malaysia, also known as the Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia is the national public broadcaster of Malaysia, headquartered at Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur. Established on 1 April 1946 as Radio Malaya, it is the first and the oldest broadcaster in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IRIB TV1</span> Iranian public TV station

IRIB TV1 is one of the 40 national television channels in Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibian Broadcasting Corporation</span> Public TV and radio broadcasting corporation

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is the public broadcaster of Namibia. It was established in 1979, under the name South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Establishment of Television</span> Algerian public service television broadcaster

Public Establishment of Television, abbreviated as EPTV, is a state-owned company that manages the activity of television in Algeria, going from production to broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV2 (Malaysian TV network)</span> Over-the-air TV channel

RTM TV2 is a Malaysian free-to-air public television channel owned and operated by the Radio Televisyen Malaysia, a broadcasting department of the Malaysian Government. Launched on 17 November 1969, TV2 is the second and second oldest TV station in Malaysia. The channel features mostly English, Mandarin and Tamil news and talk shows, the latter two languages were mainly produced for the dominant minority Chinese and Indian communities, whilst the English news functions for the nation's multiracial population whose dominant lingua franca or first language is the latter. It also offers some in-house, local and international entertainment programs, including reality shows, films and dramas as well as sports programming.

TV1, formerly Algerian Television then The Terrestrial Channel, is the first Algerian general public network of Établissement public de télévision (EPTV) formerly Établissement national de télévision (ENTV), along with TV2, TV3, TV4, TV5, TV6, TV7, TV8 and TV9.

SABC Education is a South African educational television channel owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

References

  1. "The Media Development and Diversity Agency - a draft position paper". South African Government Information. November 2000. p. 68. Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  2. The Press and Apartheid: Repression and Propaganda in South Africa, William A. Hachten, C. Anthony Giffard Springer, 1984, page 222
  3. Communication and Democratic Reform in South Africa, Robert B. Horwitz, Cambridge University Press, 2001, page 68
  4. South Africa: Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Information, 1992, page 131
  5. The voice, the vision: a sixty year history of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Malcolm Theunissen, Victor Nikitin, Melanie Pillay, Advent Graphics, 1996, page 127
  6. "Changes at SABC news", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 36, February–April 2003
  7. "SABC GOING HIGH DEFINITION FOR THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA". SABC. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  8. "SABC Admits 90% Local Content Policy Was A Flop". HuffPost UK. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  9. "BBC Studios, SABC launch BBC Primetime on S3". Advanced Television. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-05-02.