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, 8–14 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: 8–14 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 | 22.4 | 9 597 034 | 67.81% |
| 2 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.7 | 6 726 413 | 51.80% |
| 3 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.4 | 6 608 129 | 49.03% |
| 4 | ORANGE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIER:SOUTH AFRICA VS NIGERIA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 13.7 | 5 877 730 | 46.51% |
| 5 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 12.5 | 5 355 123 | 39.78% |
| 6 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 12.2 | 5 234 632 | 42.88% |
| 7 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 11.3 | 4 852 517 | 35.81% |
| 8 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 11.3 | 4 829 918 | 37.43% |
| 9 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 10.9 | 4 658 047 | 34.64% |
| 10 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 10.3 | 4 408 385 | 37.67% |
| 11 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.2 | 4 355 557 | 34.93% |
| 12 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.1 | 4 323 280 | 34.24% |
| 13 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 10.0 | 4 279 467 | 31.23% |
| 14 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 9.7 | 4 165 073 | 31.80% |
| 15 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 8.7 | 3 752 962 | 30.66% |
| 16 | PREDATORS | e.tv | Movies | Action/adventure | 8.7 | 3 717 889 | 35.39% |
| 17 | THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 8.6 | 3 688 629 | 37.04% |
| 18 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 8.2 | 3 514 316 | 33.85% |
| 19 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 7.7 | 3 323 845 | 38.04% |
| 20 | ABSA PREMIERSHIP ORLANDO PIRATES VS BIDVEST WITS | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 7.6 | 3 279 941 | 30.43% |
| 21 | SA’S GOT TALENT | e.tv | Variety | Variety | 6.4 | 2 741 881 | 25.42% |
| 22 | MODERN FAMILY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.3 | 2 702 802 | 20.88% |
| 23 | WIPEOUT | SABC 2 | Competition | Competition | 6.2 | 2 651 206 | 22.07% |
| 24 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.1 | 2 624 870 | 57.32% |
| 25 | SUNDAY LIVE | SABC 1 | Actuality | Actuality | 6.1 | 2 618 027 | 20.23% |
| 26 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 6.0 | 2 566 816 | 28.30% |
| 27 | ICE AGE:DAWN OF THE DINOSAUR | e.tv | Movies | Animation | 5.7 | 2 452 914 | 27.12% |
| 28 | FAN BASE | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 5.6 | 2 421 881 | 27.18% |
| 29 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 5.6 | 2 403 964 | 18.84% |
| 30 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.6 | 2 392 406 | 22.97% |
| 31 | STUMBO STOMP AMAPANSTULA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 5.6 | 2 381 613 | 25.17% |
| 32 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.5 | 2 380 497 | 51.95% |
| 33 | EMZINI WEZINSIZWA -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.3 | 2 273 055 | 50.23% |
| 34 | MPONENG | SABC 2 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.2 | 2 245 581 | 17.93% |
| 35 | TAKE ME OUT SA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 5.2 | 2 228 654 | 21.70% |
| 36 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 5.2 | 2 223 417 | 19.04% |
| 37 | THE LINK (MAGA) | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 5.1 | 2 198 937 | 23.33% |
| 38 | MOHLOLAHADI | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 5.1 | 2 196 720 | 23.51% |
| 39 | K’SHUBILE | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 5.1 | 2 194 052 | 20.50% |
| 40 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 5.1 | 2 167 509 | 49.95% |
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 | 15.5 | 2 088 443 | 46.43% |
| 2 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 9.7 | 1 305 503 | 32.95% |
| 3 | ORANGE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIER:SOUTH AFRICA VS NIGERIA | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 7.4 | 995 589 | 25.26% |
| 4 | ISIBAYA | Mzansi Magic | Variety | Variety | 6.9 | 937 559 | 21.82% |
| 5 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 6.2 | 843 124 | 27.97% |
| 6 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 6.0 | 813 725 | 22.69% |
| 7 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 5.7 | 765 643 | 17.00% |
| 8 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.6 | 751 216 | 17.35% |
| 9 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 5.5 | 745 775 | 17.40% |
| 10 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 5.3 | 713 408 | 16.01% |
| 11 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.1 | 685 286 | 15.78% |
| 12 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 5.0 | 669 573 | 15.76% |
| 13 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 4.9 | 662 123 | 15.85% |
| 14 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 4.8 | 650 793 | 16.45% |
| 15 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 4.3 | 576 183 | 13.53% |
| 16 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 4.2 | 569 668 | 14.44% |
| 17 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 4.2 | 568 860 | 13.09% |
| 18 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 3.9 | 532 489 | 13.48% |
| 19 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 3.8 | 509 781 | 12.83% |
| 20 | THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 3.7 | 496 374 | 13.72% |
| 21 | SAINTS AND SINNERS[DRAMA] | Mzansi Magic | Drama | Drama | 3.7 | 496 055 | 12.35% |
| 22 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.7 | 493 305 | 31.05% |
| 23 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.6 | 493 113 | 11.80% |
| 24 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 3.6 | 486 519 | 13.34% |
| 25 | PREDATORS | e.tv | Movies | Action/adventure | 3.6 | 484 731 | 12.98% |
| 26 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 3.5 | 477 681 | 11.28% |
| 27 | THE CASTLE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:NEW ZEALAND VS SOUTH AFRICA | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 3.5 | 476 613 | 18.39% |
| 28 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 3.5 | 474 693 | 12.08% |
| 29 | OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG) | Mzansi Magic | Magazine | Magazine | 3.5 | 470 014 | 11.36% |
| 30 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.4 | 462 903 | 28.99% |
| 31 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 3.4 | 453 241 | 12.84% |
| 32 | ABSA CURRIE CUP 2014:GOLDEN LIONS VS W PROVINCE | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 3.2 | 437 243 | 12.54% |
| 33 | MOHLOLAHADI | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 3.2 | 436 446 | 13.30% |
| 34 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 3.1 | 415 744 | 27.84% |
| 35 | ABSA PREMIERSHIP ORLANDO PIRATES VS BIDVEST WITS | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.1 | 414 687 | 11.63% |
| 36 | RUGBY WRAP UP | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 2.7 | 363 146 | 14.05% |
| 37 | THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL | SABC 3 | Soap opera | International | 2.7 | 360 930 | 10.85% |
| 38 | SA’S GOT TALENT | e.tv | Variety | Variety | 2.7 | 360 902 | 9.18% |
| 39 | ABSA PREMIERSHIP ORLANDO PIRATES VS BIDVEST WITS | SuperSport 4 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 2.7 | 358 503 | 10.44% |
| 40 | EMZINI WEZINSIZWA -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 2.6 | 351 707 | 22.51% |
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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