South African TV viewers have a new favorite on e.tv! The Broadcasting Research Council of South Africa’s (BRCSA) May figures reveal a shakeup in the channel’s most-watched shows, with the telenovela “Smoke and Mirrors” making a sizzling entrance into the top 3.
Smoke and Mirrors Heats Up the Competition
“Smoke and Mirrors” garnered a strong 3.6 million viewers in May, pushing the long-running soapie “Scandal!” down to fourth place with 3.5 million viewers. This is a significant shift, especially considering “Scandal!” shed even more viewers compared to April, when it had 3.8 million. “Scandal!” appears to be facing a challenge to its established dominance.
House of Zwide Remains the King
While there’s a new contender in town, “House of Zwide” maintains its position as the e.tv champion with a solid 4.5 million viewers. “Isitha: The Enemy” also continues to perform well, holding onto a comfortable second place with 4 million viewers.
Black Brain Pictures’ Isiphetho Loses Momentum
Black Brain Pictures’ new show, “Isiphetho: Destiny,” seems to be losing some of its initial steam. After a promising start with 3.95 million viewers in April, the show dipped to 3.2 million in May, dropping from third to fifth place. It will be interesting to see if the show can regain its footing in the coming months.
Scandal! Dethroned by Skeem Saam
“Scandal!” used to be the undisputed ruler of e.tv’s evening lineup. However, its reign ended in March when “Skeem Saam” took over the coveted 7:30 PM timeslot. “Skeem Saam” continues to climb in popularity, reaching 4.43 million viewers in May, up from 4 million in April. This growth has landed “Skeem Saam” in the coveted third place spot on SABC1, following the hugely popular shows “Uzalo” (5.2 million) and “Generations: The Legacy” (4.45 million).
A Shifting Landscape
With “Smoke and Mirrors” on the rise and established favorites like “Scandal!” facing challenges, the South African television landscape is experiencing a shift. Viewers have more choices than ever before, and the race for ratings supremacy is heating up. It will be exciting to see how these shows, along with others, adapt and compete for viewers’ attention in the coming months.