Generations To Run All Day

Just in. South Africa's biggest television show has just announced that it will be running its shows beyond the 30 minutes slot it now owns on SABC 1, weekdays at 20h30. Can't get enough of the shananigans of Khethiwe, Jason, or the rest of the characters? 

Fans of the show will now get the show online with the story available to them between episodes, throughout the day, on www.generations.co.za. This exclusive content is available in the form of character thoughts and text messages between characters. 

Mfundi Vundla, executive producer of Generations says: 

“Lightning-fast developments in technology conveying television content has changed viewing patterns. People do not want to be restricted to getting their favourite shows for a limited period of time or at a certain time of day. They want the story to live on, and they want to get more from their favourite characters. This new format gives our viewers and fans what they want.”

Users also have access to Generations­­-based polls, competitions and exclusive downloads, which are all relevant to and part of current storylines. Additionally, users can share their views on the story and its characters by posting comments in a public conversation with other Generations fans and followers.

Moreover, they can create social connections with others and develop their own list of people from who they would like to hear.

The platform the SABC uses for Generations is known as Wezwa, and this level of integration between a social medium and a TV broadcaster’s content is a world-first. The type of digital extension of a media property is referred to as Transmedia, and is part of a worldwide phenomenon called Social TV – a general term for communication and social interaction in either the context of watching television, or related to television content.

“The internet is the medium of the future, and it gives users the power to enjoy the drama, suspense, and intrigue from anywhere. Africa’s internet usage happens predominantly on mobile devices, and we are proud to be innovating in an African context instead of waiting to copy the developed world,” says Bongi Ndaba, Generations head writer and the show’s co-producer.

The online initiative is available for free – users only have to pay data costs – and it can be accessed from any internet-enabled cellphone or device.

For more info on this new development, visit the Generations site at www.generations.co.za.