by SAARF & MarkLives (@marklives) 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.
We reveal the best-watched shows of the week before (in this case, 1–7 September 2014), where they ran and how many South Africans tuned in to watch.
We offer two tables:
- The first covers all households — free-to-air viewing (the various SABC channels and e.tv), as well as the DStv platform
- The second charting the best-watched shows on the DStv network of channels only.
SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings Charts: 1–7 September 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 | 21.6 | 9 271 328 | 68.04% |
| 2 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.7 | 6 726 650 | 52.99% |
| 3 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.3 | 6 559 947 | 51.01% |
| 4 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 12.1 | 5 184 178 | 39.43% |
| 5 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 11.6 | 4 996 020 | 39.06% |
| 6 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 11.3 | 4 831 822 | 36.56% |
| 7 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 11.1 | 4 758 445 | 34.96% |
| 8 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 10.9 | 4 656 676 | 39.05% |
| 9 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 10.7 | 4 601 300 | 34.78% |
| 10 | CAF QUALIFIERS:SUDAN VS SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 10.7 | 4 580 989 | 34.75% |
| 11 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 9.9 | 4 245 397 | 37.27% |
| 12 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 9.4 | 4 026 673 | 32.89% |
| 13 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 8.8 | 3 792 327 | 32.35% |
| 14 | ICE AGE | e.tv | Movies | Animation | 8.3 | 3 563 343 | 33.83% |
| 15 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 7.6 | 3 268 081 | 27.98% |
| 16 | THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 7.4 | 3 158 816 | 32.85% |
| 17 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 7.1 | 3 058 706 | 36.46% |
| 18 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 6.9 | 2 941 850 | 28.81% |
| 19 | WWE SUMMERSLAM | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 6.7 | 2 876 740 | 39.22% |
| 20 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.4 | 2 737 628 | 27.36% |
| 21 | STUMBO STOMP AMAPANSTULA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.1 | 2 637 932 | 28.48% |
| 22 | BANDITS | SABC 1 | Movies | Drama | 6.1 | 2 623 248 | 25.71% |
| 23 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 6.0 | 2 556 311 | 28.65% |
| 24 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 5.9 | 2 539 530 | 24.29% |
| 25 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 5.7 | 2 459 629 | 19.56% |
| 26 | MODERN FAMILY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.5 | 2 374 905 | 18.96% |
| 27 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.5 | 2 369 950 | 56.10% |
| 28 | WIPEOUT | SABC 2 | Competition | Competition | 5.5 | 2 339 240 | 20.38% |
| 29 | SA’S GOT TALENT | e.tv | Variety | Variety | 5.4 | 2 334 928 | 21.61% |
| 30 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.4 | 2 320 756 | 20.31% |
| 31 | SUNDAY LIVE | SABC 1 | Actuality | Actuality | 5.4 | 2 308 725 | 18.44% |
| 32 | LOTTO DRAW LIVE | e.tv | Competition | Competition | 5.2 | 2 249 598 | 22.60% |
| 33 | K’SHUBILE | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 5.2 | 2 219 575 | 20.82% |
| 34 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.1 | 2 194 553 | 51.77% |
| 35 | SHAKA ZULU | SABC 3 | Drama | Drama | 5.0 | 2 162 258 | 17.35% |
| 36 | NEDBANK CUP:NEDBANK KE YONA VS ORLANDO PIRATES | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 5.0 | 2 149 912 | 25.67% |
| 37 | GENERATIONS -O | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 5.0 | 2 124 350 | 34.78% |
| 38 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 4.9 | 2 083 496 | 34.72% |
| 39 | EMZINI WEZINSIZWA -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 4.8 | 2 074 984 | 50.01% |
| 40 | THE LINK (MAGA) | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 4.8 | 2 064 892 | 23.14% |
DStv
| 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 | 15.8 | 2 140 452 | 49.26% |
| 2 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 9.0 | 1 220 144 | 31.30% |
| 3 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.7 | 909 209 | 20.75% |
| 4 | ISIBAYA | Mzansi Magic | Variety | Variety | 6.7 | 907 530 | 21.47% |
| 5 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 6.2 | 841 305 | 28.33% |
| 6 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.0 | 815 458 | 18.81% |
| 7 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.9 | 791 676 | 17.98% |
| 8 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 5.5 | 739 554 | 20.77% |
| 9 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.4 | 723 145 | 17.07% |
| 10 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.3 | 711 298 | 16.83% |
| 11 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.1 | 693 565 | 17.45% |
| 12 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.1 | 687 283 | 16.49% |
| 13 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 4.8 | 651 670 | 16.51% |
| 14 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 4.5 | 602 820 | 14.35% |
| 15 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 4.3 | 584 597 | 14.69% |
| 16 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 4.3 | 580 595 | 14.62% |
| 17 | CAF QUALIFIERS:SUDAN VS SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 4.1 | 554 910 | 13.18% |
| 18 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 4.0 | 539 560 | 16.03% |
| 19 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 4.0 | 539 201 | 12.77% |
| 20 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 4.0 | 537 266 | 13.08% |
| 21 | YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU | M-Net | Movies | Comedy | 3.9 | 520 641 | 12.63% |
| 22 | OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG) | Mzansi Magic | Magazine | Magazine | 3.8 | 513 869 | 12.56% |
| 23 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 3.8 | 512 707 | 14.86% |
| 24 | ICE AGE | e.tv | Movies | Animation | 3.7 | 493 669 | 13.69% |
| 25 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 3.6 | 490 065 | 14.46% |
| 26 | WWE SUMMERSLAM | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 3.5 | 477 403 | 17.32% |
| 27 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.4 | 461 643 | 31.81% |
| 28 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 3.4 | 461 302 | 11.73% |
| 29 | SAINTS AND SINNERS[DRAMA] | Mzansi Magic | Drama | Drama | 3.3 | 448 614 | 11.10% |
| 30 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 3.3 | 443 622 | 11.27% |
| 31 | ABSA CURRIE CUP 2014:SHARKS VS CRIQUAS | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 3.2 | 434 604 | 13.02% |
| 32 | THE CASTLE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 3.2 | 433 282 | 16.13% |
| 33 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.1 | 415 268 | 28.93% |
| 34 | ABSA CURRIE CUP 2014:XEROX GOLDEN LIONS VS VODACOM BLUE BULLS | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 3.0 | 409 591 | 10.61% |
| 35 | THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL | SABC 3 | Soap opera | International | 2.9 | 396 056 | 12.06% |
| 36 | STUMBO STOMP AMAPANSTULA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 2.8 | 381 451 | 10.99% |
| 37 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 2.8 | 379 360 | 28.30% |
| 38 | LOTTO DRAW LIVE | e.tv | Competition | Competition | 2.8 | 378 533 | 11.29% |
| 39 | SHAKA ZULU | SABC 3 | Drama | Drama | 2.7 | 370 418 | 9.35% |
| 40 | TAKE ME OUT SA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 2.7 | 366 101 | 10.85% |
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.
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