No more soapies on SABC?
Apparently, the SABC's debt is more than R40million.
Some of South Africa's most popular programmes – including Generations, 7de Laan, Isidingo and series like Emzini Wezinsizwa and Home Affairs – could disappear from TV screens within weeks. They may be replaced with repeat broadcasts, if the SABC can't find the money to pay its outstanding bills for programmes which have already been delivered to the broadcaster.
TV producers will hold an urgent meeting to decide what to do regarding the SABC's outstanding payments worth millions of rands, which is threatening to derail the production of several TV programmes. They refuse to provide the SABC with any new video material until the broadcaster pays the outstanding debts.
South Africa's most popular daily soap opera, Generations has debt of R9million. The last new episodes of Generations will be shown at the start of June, with no new episodes to follow.
Brink of collapse
"I'm very concerned about the SABC," Generations producer Frederick Stark told Die Burger. "It is on the brink of collapse and I don't know how the SABC was permitted to reach this desperate point."
The SABC would not confirm whether the rumours that it would ask the Treasury for a bailout of R1.5billion are true.
"I'm not saying we're asking for money, but we are having talks. The SABC has a problem," said SABC spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago.
He would not confirm how much the SABC owes to TV producers, but he says that the SABC's income has dropped, which makes payments even more difficult.
"When the economy weakens, the first place companies cut is their marketing budget," said Kganyago. "This has an impact on broadcasters throughout the world."
Several American, European and other broadcasters are also experiencing serious cash-flow problems because of the credit crunch. But the SABC is in an even more precarious financial position, because of various managerial factors.
Which shows should the SABC definitely keep?