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, 29 September–5 October 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 charts the best-watched shows on the DStv network of channels only.
SAARF/MarkLives #Top40TVratings Charts: 29 September–5 October 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 | 24.7 | 10 606 740 | 74.50% |
| 2 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 17.8 | 7 616 015 | 58.44% |
| 3 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 16.2 | 6 932 603 | 53.06% |
| 4 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 15.5 | 6 637 340 | 48.62% |
| 5 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 13.3 | 5 694 086 | 43.33% |
| 6 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 12.6 | 5 399 396 | 38.91% |
| 7 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 12.2 | 5 228 516 | 38.73% |
| 8 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 12.0 | 5 151 626 | 38.65% |
| 9 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 11.7 | 5 024 967 | 43.48% |
| 10 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 11.0 | 4 716 956 | 38.62% |
| 11 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 10.6 | 4 544 417 | 38.13% |
| 12 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 10.5 | 4 506 255 | 36.64% |
| 13 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 9.8 | 4 189 356 | 34.10% |
| 14 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 9.0 | 3 880 723 | 29.23% |
| 15 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 8.7 | 3 734 808 | 30.15% |
| 16 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 8.3 | 3 571 725 | 32.30% |
| 17 | TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP KAIZER CHIEFS VS MARITZBURG UNITED | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 8.2 | 3 525 376 | 35.16% |
| 18 | NGEMPELA | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 8.2 | 3 505 203 | 32.41% |
| 19 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 7.9 | 3 397 073 | 34.95% |
| 20 | SUNDAY LIVE | SABC 1 | Actuality | Actuality | 7.7 | 3 319 522 | 27.25% |
| 21 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 7.0 | 3 012 026 | 36.59% |
| 22 | STUMBO STOMP AMAPANSTULA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 7.0 | 2 999 565 | 30.73% |
| 23 | THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 7.0 | 2 987 777 | 34.32% |
| 24 | FAST & FURIOUS | SABC 1 | Movies | Action/adventure | 6.7 | 2 872 633 | 27.76% |
| 25 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.5 | 2 784 455 | 53.78% |
| 26 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 6.3 | 2 713 732 | 25.91% |
| 27 | SA’S GOT TALENT | e.tv | Variety | Variety | 6.3 | 2 686 959 | 26.63% |
| 28 | VELAPHI -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 6.2 | 2 652 945 | 51.34% |
| 29 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 6.2 | 2 648 844 | 31.09% |
| 30 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.9 | 2 534 739 | 49.29% |
| 31 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 5.8 | 2 504 740 | 19.83% |
| 32 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 5.8 | 2 473 780 | 51.05% |
| 33 | NOW OR NEVER | SABC 1 | Documentary | Documentary | 5.6 | 2 404 371 | 24.60% |
| 34 | NGEMPELA -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.6 | 2 390 763 | 48.98% |
| 35 | FAN BASE | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 5.3 | 2 283 296 | 26.66% |
| 36 | 100% YOUTH | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 4.8 | 2 077 639 | 22.99% |
| 37 | TAKE ME OUT SA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 4.8 | 2 072 977 | 20.92% |
| 38 | MOHLOLAHADI | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 4.8 | 2 070 868 | 24.95% |
| 39 | ISIDINGO -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 4.8 | 2 066 304 | 47.47% |
| 40 | CUTTING EDGE | SABC 1 | Actuality | Actuality | 4.8 | 2 059 533 | 23.87% |
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 | 19.3 | 2 608 177 | 56.39% |
| 2 | SKEEM SAAM | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 11.2 | 1 516 823 | 35.76% |
| 3 | MUVHANGO | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 9.3 | 1 252 469 | 32.33% |
| 4 | SELIMATHUNZI | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 7.2 | 971 763 | 21.70% |
| 5 | ISIBAYA | Mzansi Magic | Variety | Variety | 6.7 | 907 366 | 21.35% |
| 6 | ZAZIWA | SABC 1 | Variety | Variety | 6.6 | 890 616 | 20.70% |
| 7 | SCANDAL | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 6.5 | 873 428 | 20.15% |
| 8 | SES’TOP LA | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 6.4 | 867 491 | 19.72% |
| 9 | MFOLOZI STREET | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.2 | 844 304 | 18.84% |
| 10 | SOUL CITY | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 6.1 | 821 411 | 18.16% |
| 11 | POWERBALL | SABC 2 | Variety | Variety | 5.5 | 748 443 | 21.60% |
| 12 | XHOSA NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 5.5 | 745 948 | 18.22% |
| 13 | SPEAK OUT | SABC 2 | Actuality | Actuality | 5.5 | 742 293 | 24.89% |
| 14 | STICKS AND STONES | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 5.2 | 704 793 | 16.28% |
| 15 | ZULU NEWS | SABC 1 | News | News | 4.8 | 647 952 | 15.34% |
| 16 | KHUMBUL’ EKHAYA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 4.6 | 624 520 | 17.13% |
| 17 | THE CASTLE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH AFRICA VS NEW ZEALAND | SuperSport 1 | Sport | Rugby (all) | 4.1 | 559 124 | 16.06% |
| 18 | SHREDS AND DREAMS | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.9 | 529 613 | 13.17% |
| 19 | ISIDINGO:THE NEED | SABC 3 | Soap opera | Local | 3.9 | 525 462 | 12.47% |
| 20 | 7DE LAAN | SABC 2 | Soap opera | Local | 3.9 | 524 345 | 13.57% |
| 21 | 1’S AND 2’S SHOW | SABC 1 | Music | Music | 3.9 | 522 442 | 12.72% |
| 22 | WWE WRESTLING RAW | e.tv | Sport | Wrestling | 3.7 | 502 009 | 14.94% |
| 23 | RHYTHM CITY | e.tv | Drama | Drama | 3.6 | 487 442 | 12.55% |
| 24 | SKEEM SAAM -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.6 | 481 165 | 26.76% |
| 25 | REAL GOBOZA | SABC 1 | Magazine | Magazine | 3.5 | 479 210 | 12.58% |
| 26 | GENERATIONS -R | SABC 1 | Soap opera | Local | 3.5 | 472 019 | 28.58% |
| 27 | THE X FACTOR SOUTH AFRICA | SABC 1 | Reality | Reality | 3.2 | 427 658 | 12.35% |
| 28 | MUVHANGO -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.2 | 427 649 | 24.45% |
| 29 | TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP KAIZER CHIEFS VS MARITZBURG UNITED | SABC 1 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 3.2 | 426 067 | 12.41% |
| 30 | NGEMPELA | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.0 | 411 868 | 11.05% |
| 31 | IHAWU | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 3.0 | 411 737 | 10.56% |
| 32 | NEWS | e.tv | News | News | 3.0 | 411 556 | 10.51% |
| 33 | OUR PERFECT WEDDING (MAG) | Mzansi Magic | Magazine | Magazine | 2.9 | 393 497 | 9.71% |
| 34 | MOHLOLAHADI | SABC 2 | Drama | Drama | 2.9 | 385 668 | 12.68% |
| 35 | VELAPHI -R | SABC 1 | Sitcom | Sitcom | 2.6 | 354 362 | 19.70% |
| 36 | NOW OR NEVER | SABC 1 | Documentary | Documentary | 2.6 | 346 115 | 9.54% |
| 37 | NGEMPELA -R | SABC 1 | Drama | Drama | 2.6 | 346 001 | 20.77% |
| 38 | SA’S GOT TALENT | e.tv | Variety | Variety | 2.6 | 345 368 | 9.03% |
| 39 | TELKOM KNOCKOUT CUP ORLANDO PIRATES VS POLOKWANE CITY | SuperSport 4 | Sport | Football (soccer) | 2.5 | 342 611 | 11.32% |
| 40 | FAST & FURIOUS | SABC 1 | Movies | Action/adventure | 2.5 | 331 167 | 8.59% |
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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