by SAARF & MarkLives (@marklives) Indeed, yes, we South Africans do love our football, as our SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings national and DStv charts show during during the week of 9–15 June 2014 — but the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil hasn’t made it to the Top 10 in either chart… yet.
This weekly roundup of South Africa’s TV audience viewership, a collaboration between the South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) and MarkLives, reveals the best-watched shows of the week before, where it ran and how many South Africans tuned in to watch.
We offer two tables, the first covering all households — free-to-air viewing (the various SABC channels and e.tv) as well as the DStv platform — and the second charting the best-watched shows on the DStv network of channels only.
SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings Chart: 9–15 June 2014
| Market | Target | Activity | |||||
| National | Total Indv (incl guests) | Live + VOSDAL | |||||
| Counter | Description (grouped) | Channel | Level 1 | Level 2\variable | (r) AMR % | AMR | SHR % |
| 1 | GENERATIONS | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 19.3 | 8 263 195 | 59.92% |
| 2 | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 18.6 | 7 965 245 | 56.81% | |
| 3 | TEMPY PUSHAS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 13.2 | 5 663 686 | 43.77% |
| 4 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 12.2 | 5 231 396 | 44.26% |
| 5 | MY PERFECT FAMILY | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 10.8 | 4 647 964 | 33.41% |
| 6 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.8 | 4 622 559 | 33.40% |
| 7 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.2 | 4 379 631 | 31.48% |
| 8 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 10.1 | 4 350 954 | 32.09% |
| 9 | ENTABENI | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 10.1 | 4 344 462 | 33.40% |
| 10 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 10.0 | 4 292 074 | 34.40% |
| 11 | MR BONES | SABC 3 | Movies | Comedy | 9.2 | 3 956 653 | 31.54% |
| 12 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 9.1 | 3 891 582 | 28.12% |
| 13 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 8.8 | 3 784 872 | 29.98% |
| 14 | FIFA WORLD CUP L COLOMBIA/GREECE | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 8.3 | 3 578 050 | 29.22% |
| 15 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 8.3 | 3 561 113 | 34.35% |
| 16 | FIFA WORLD CUP L SWITZERLAND/ECUADOR | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 8.3 | 3 550 819 | 28.02% |
| 17 | FIFA WORLD CUP L MEXICO/CAMEROON | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 8.3 | 3 543 265 | 27.72% |
| 18 | COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS | SABC 2 | Documentary | Documentary | 8.0 | 3 448 984 | 25.70% |
| 19 | FIFA WORLD CUP L BRAZIL/CROATIA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 8.0 | 3 414 987 | 50.05% |
| 20 | NYAN NYAN | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 7.7 | 3 314 593 | 29.47% |
| 21 | FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014 OPENING CEREMONY | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 7.6 | 3 279 863 | 23.35% |
| 22 | NEWS HEADLINES | SABC 1 | News | News | 7.4 | 3 191 546 | 24.31% |
| 23 | FIFA WORLD CUP L SPAIN/ NETHERLANDS | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 7.3 | 3 133 844 | 30.77% |
| 24 | JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION | e.tv | Movies | Comedy | 7.3 | 3 128 459 | 27.65% |
| 25 | FAMILY BONDS | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 7.2 | 3 109 140 | 22.55% |
| 26 | GENERATIONS RETRO | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 6.6 | 2 845 015 | 22.67% |
| 27 | 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP REVIEW | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 6.5 | 2 785 701 | 20.80% |
| 28 | THOLA | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 6.2 | 2 662 945 | 37.97% |
| 29 | SKWIZAS | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 6.0 | 2 570 081 | 19.91% |
| 30 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 5.8 | 2 476 309 | 17.94% |
| 31 | RAINBOW TRIBE | SABC 2 | Movies | Drama | 5.7 | 2 453 833 | 26.78% |
| 32 | FIFA WORLD CUP L FRANCE/HONDURAS | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 5.7 | 2 430 573 | 26.68% |
| 33 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 5.6 | 2 423 741 | 19.22% |
| 34 | FIFA WORLD CUP L URUGUAY/COSTA RICA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 5.6 | 2 417 022 | 27.69% |
| 35 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 5.6 | 2 399 072 | 19.71% |
| 36 | GA RE DUMELE -R | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.5 | 2 364 591 | 26.63% |
| 37 | TROPICA ISLAND OF TREASURE | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 5.4 | 2 329 315 | 22.59% |
| 38 | FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014 PREVIEW | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 5.4 | 2 310 066 | 23.25% |
| 39 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 5.3 | 2 285 559 | 22.47% |
| 40 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 2 | News | News | 5.3 | 2 256 923 | 16.72% |
DStv platform only
| Market | Target | Activity | |||||
| DStv | Total Indv (incl guests) | Live + VOSDAL | |||||
| Counter | Description (grouped) | Channel | Level 1 | Level 2\variable | (r) AMR % | AMR | SHR % |
| 1 | GENERATIONS | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 13.0 | 1 750 055 | 39.18% |
| 2 | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 12.9 | 1 744 090 | 39.74% | |
| 3 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 8.9 | 1 197 221 | 31.13% |
| 4 | ISIBAYA | Mzansi Magic | Variety | Variety | 6.6 | 895 522 | 21.03% |
| 5 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.4 | 862 896 | 20.42% |
| 6 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.2 | 840 851 | 19.05% |
| 7 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 6.0 | 813 395 | 18.28% |
| 8 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 5.9 | 791 846 | 18.24% |
| 9 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 5.4 | 728 657 | 20.38% |
| 10 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 4.9 | 661 864 | 15.68% |
| 11 | FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014 OPENING CEREMONY | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 4.7 | 641 247 | 14.05% |
| 12 | MR BONES | SABC 3 | Movies | Comedy | 4.5 | 611 141 | 14.69% |
| 13 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 4.4 | 595 500 | 13.53% |
| 14 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 4.2 | 566 898 | 14.09% |
| 15 | FIFA WORLD CUP L BRAZIL/CROATIA | SuperSport 3 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 4.2 | 565 378 | 25.84% |
| 16 | TEMPY PUSHAS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 4.0 | 544 879 | 12.70% |
| 17 | FIFA WORLD CUP L SPAIN/ NETHERLANDS | SuperSport 3 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.9 | 525 675 | 16.34% |
| 18 | FIFA WORLD CUP L BRAZIL/CROATIA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.8 | 508 062 | 21.08% |
| 19 | FIFA WORLD CUP L MEXICO/CAMEROON | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.6 | 483 986 | 11.56% |
| 20 | MY PERFECT FAMILY | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 3.6 | 483 041 | 10.64% |
| 21 | ENTABENI | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.5 | 476 369 | 11.74% |
| 22 | FIFA WORLD CUP L SPAIN/ NETHERLANDS | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.5 | 474 775 | 13.72% |
| 23 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 3.5 | 469 318 | 15.12% |
| 24 | FAMILY BONDS | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 3.4 | 464 982 | 10.65% |
| 25 | FIFA WORLD CUP L COLOMBIA/GREECE | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.4 | 453 393 | 10.99% |
| 26 | THOLA | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 3.3 | 452 353 | 17.47% |
| 27 | NYAN NYAN | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 3.3 | 447 254 | 11.53% |
| 28 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 3.2 | 438 794 | 9.87% |
| 29 | GA RE DUMELE -R | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 3.2 | 433 466 | 15.69% |
| 30 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 3.2 | 427 038 | 10.47% |
| 31 | NOOT VIR NOOT | SABC 3 | Music | Music | 3.1 | 425 248 | 9.89% |
| 32 | NUUS | SABC 2 | News | News | 3.0 | 401 007 | 9.60% |
| 33 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 2.9 | 393 646 | 24.92% |
| 34 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 2.9 | 391 820 | 26.06% |
| 35 | THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL | SABC 3 | Soap opera | International | 2.9 | 391 658 | 10.49% |
| 36 | OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG) | Mzansi Magic | Magazine | Magazine | 2.9 | 389 175 | 9.29% |
| 37 | JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION | e.tv | Movies | Comedy | 2.9 | 385 942 | 10.26% |
| 38 | 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP REVIEW | SABC 1 | Sport | Football(soccer) | 2.8 | 380 551 | 8.71% |
| 39 | CASTLE INCOMING TOUR 2014 SOUTH AFRICA VS WALES | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby(all) | 2.8 | 378 066 | 10.41% |
| 40 | FIFA WORLD CUP L MEXICO/CAMEROON | SuperSport 3 | Sport | Football(soccer) | 2.8 | 377 924 | 9.00% |
How to read the tables:
AMR% refers to the number of people in a target market who were watching an event ie programme, expressed as a percentage of the population for that demographic: “On average, 16.3% of adults aged 15+ who watched TV from 28 Jan-3 Feb 2014 watched Society on SABC 1”.
AMR is the number of people in a target market watching a specific event ie programme per minute, expressed in absolute figures: “On average, 1, 541, 066 adults aged 15+ who watched TV from from28 Jan-3 Feb 2014 watched Society on SABC 1”.
Share % (SHR %) is the share or proportion of the available audience (people watching TV at that time) that a specific channel/programme has achieved at that time: “Society achieved a share % of 52.59% from 28 Jan- 3 Feb 2014 on SABC 1″.
SAARF is the name by which the South African Audience Research Foundation is familiarly known. SAARF’s main objective is to direct and publish media audience and product/brand research for the benefit of its stake-holders, thereby providing data for target marketing and a common currency for the buying and selling of media space and time. SAARF has thus the responsibility to measure the audiences of all traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema and out of home media.
— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every three work days. Sign up here!