by SAARF & MarkLives (@marklives) There was a massive jump in viewer interest in the 2014 Commonwealth Games as South Africa’s athletes showed off their mettle to bring home 40 pieces of metal (13 Gold, 10 Silver and 17 Bronze). During the week of 28 July–3 August 2014, the Games jumped to no. 9 from 23rd and 26th on our SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings national chart — and made it to no. 3 on our DStv chart, way up from 26th!
A collaboration between the South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) and MarkLives, this SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings column is a weekly roundup of South Africa’s TV audience viewership. It 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 Charts: 28 July–3 August 2014
National
| 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 | 20.6 | 8 852 995 | 64.28% |
| 2 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.5 | 6 629 104 | 52.15% |
| 3 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.3 | 6 545 410 | 46.38% |
| 4 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.2 | 6 540 209 | 50.97% |
| 5 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 13.1 | 5 628 706 | 42.88% |
| 6 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 12.9 | 5 551 458 | 46.98% |
| 7 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 11.4 | 4 880 081 | 35.37% |
| 8 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 11.4 | 4 873 546 | 35.25% |
| 9 | COMMONWEALTH GAMES | SABC 2 | Sport | Organised & national games | 10.7 | 4 570 179 | 39.36% |
| 10 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.0 | 4 286 077 | 32.47% |
| 11 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 9.9 | 4 228 830 | 31.22% |
| 12 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 9.5 | 4 073 880 | 32.38% |
| 13 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 9.4 | 4 016 681 | 30.17% |
| 14 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 9.3 | 3 987 252 | 39.32% |
| 15 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 8.9 | 3 797 676 | 30.63% |
| 16 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 8.8 | 3 781 724 | 31.72% |
| 17 | FRIENDS LIKE THESE | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 8.7 | 3 732 873 | 36.40% |
| 18 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 8.4 | 3 596 225 | 29.34% |
| 19 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 7.5 | 3 214 954 | 25.98% |
| 20 | X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE | e.tv | Movies | Action/adventure | 7.4 | 3 154 680 | 29.75% |
| 21 | THE LOSERS | SABC 1 | Movies | Action/adventure | 6.7 | 2 895 293 | 26.17% |
| 22 | THE MILLENNIUM MENACE | SABC 1 | Movies | Movies | 6.7 | 2 867 507 | 25.02% |
| 23 | STUMBO STOMP AMAPANSTULA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.5 | 2 769 027 | 26.60% |
| 24 | MTN 8 KAIZER CHIEFS VS BLACK ACES | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 6.3 | 2 690 141 | 32.27% |
| 25 | THE LINK (MAGA) | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 6.3 | 2 684 209 | 25.62% |
| 26 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 6.2 | 2 678 426 | 30.19% |
| 27 | GA BOSE GANGWE | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 6.0 | 2 571 281 | 26.42% |
| 28 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.8 | 2 472 128 | 53.84% |
| 29 | MPONENG | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.8 | 2 470 597 | 20.05% |
| 30 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 5.6 | 2 413 064 | 21.69% |
| 31 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 5.5 | 2 351 964 | 36.56% |
| 32 | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.5 | 2 349 004 | 51.79% | |
| 33 | K’SHUBILE | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 5.5 | 2 347 525 | 21.54% |
| 34 | WIPEOUT | SABC 2 | Competition | Competition | 5.4 | 2 337 267 | 19.50% |
| 35 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 5.4 | 2 310 193 | 17.58% |
| 36 | MODERN FAMILY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.3 | 2 258 629 | 17.68% |
| 37 | EMZINI WEZINSIZWA -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.2 | 2 234 803 | 48.65% |
| 38 | TRUE LIES (MOVIE) | e.tv | Movies | Drama | 5.2 | 2 213 797 | 23.00% |
| 39 | 100% YOUTH | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 5.2 | 2 211 466 | 22.21% |
| 40 | SHALLOW HAL | e.tv | Movies | Comedy | 5.1 | 2 199 160 | 21.33% |
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 1 | Soap opera | Local | 14.7 | 1 985 308 | 44.14% |
| 2 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 9.7 | 1 315 064 | 33.14% |
| 3 | COMMONWEALTH GAMES | SABC 2 | Sport | Organised & national games | 8.6 | 1 160 365 | 29.01% |
| 4 | ISIBAYA | Mzansi Magic | Variety | Variety | 6.5 | 876 885 | 20.35% |
| 5 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.4 | 864 283 | 19.61% |
| 6 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.4 | 858 983 | 19.53% |
| 7 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 6.2 | 843 570 | 18.39% |
| 8 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 6.2 | 839 606 | 24.14% |
| 9 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.0 | 810 517 | 18.72% |
| 10 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.0 | 807 846 | 18.15% |
| 11 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.8 | 781 343 | 18.18% |
| 12 | IDOLS YR 10 | Mzansi Magic | Reality | Reality | 5.4 | 735 177 | 17.87% |
| 13 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.4 | 729 875 | 17.76% |
| 14 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 5.2 | 702 753 | 16.08% |
| 15 | SAINTS AND SINNERS[DRAMA] | Mzansi Magic | Drama | Drama | 4.8 | 645 119 | 14.88% |
| 16 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 4.8 | 644 404 | 19.32% |
| 17 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 4.8 | 642 392 | 14.96% |
| 18 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 4.5 | 607 045 | 14.10% |
| 19 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 4.2 | 567 368 | 13.37% |
| 20 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 4.2 | 563 255 | 13.36% |
| 21 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 4.2 | 561 508 | 13.72% |
| 22 | FRIENDS LIKE THESE | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 4.0 | 543 450 | 14.69% |
| 23 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 3.8 | 518 869 | 14.42% |
| 24 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.8 | 516 987 | 12.57% |
| 25 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 3.8 | 509 344 | 12.16% |
| 26 | OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG) | Mzansi Magic | Magazine | Magazine | 3.6 | 490 016 | 11.33% |
| 27 | GA BOSE GANGWE | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 3.6 | 484 968 | 14.35% |
| 28 | MTN 8 ORLANDO PIRATES VS SUPERSPORT UNITED | SuperSport 3 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.5 | 467 313 | 13.39% |
| 29 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.4 | 462 056 | 11.18% |
| 30 | CUTTING EDGE | SABC 1 | Actuality | Actuality | 3.3 | 450 147 | 13.64% |
| 31 | NOOT VIR NOOT | SABC 2 | Music | Music | 3.2 | 436 211 | 10.09% |
| 32 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 3.2 | 431 360 | 9.96% |
| 33 | THE MILLENNIUM MENACE | SABC 1 | Movies | Movies | 3.1 | 419 386 | 10.11% |
| 34 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 2.9 | 392 969 | 25.49% |
| 35 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 2.9 | 391 983 | 25.93% |
| 36 | THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL | SABC 3 | Soap opera | International | 2.9 | 387 079 | 10.95% |
| 37 | MPONENG | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 2.6 | 351 788 | 8.20% |
| 38 | GA RE DUMELE | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 2.6 | 350 141 | 7.76% |
| 39 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 2.6 | 347 499 | 12.65% |
| 40 | MTN 8 KAIZER CHIEFS VS BLACK ACES | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 2.6 | 345 017 | 10.31% |
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!