SowetoTV Grows To An Over 3 Million Viewership Mark

Someone is doing their job great at Soweto TV because the channel seems to be growing from strength to strength with each year. Soweto TV, a community television station which began broadcasting to residents of Soweto Township in Gauteng in 2007, celebrates a growing viewership of 3.65m.

This is huge for a community channel that does not have the media attention or resources that the major channels have. Considering that the highest rated show in the country hovers around the 7 million mark, this is a clear indication that very soon, Soweto TV will be competing with the big shows on SABC.

The channel is now attracting more viewers than SABC3 and all the other DSTV channels. It is also on the same viewership level with Etv. 

It is an inspiring story the channel has to tell.

From a start-up with zero capital to a station that continues viewership growth year on year, Soweto TV strives to provide relevant content and a contribution to employment creation and poverty alleviation in the community which it serves. 

This year, the station donated R100 000 each to Othandweni Children’s Home, Orlando Children’s Home, Soweto Home for the Aged, and Tokologo Self Help Centre for Quadriplegics.

SowetoTV has also provided a platform for up and coming South African talent such as Lerato Kganyago, and Meshack Mosiya, Chairman of the Board, maintains that the station aims to not only showcase but nurture unearthed talent in the community. 

Future plans involve starting a Soweto TV Academy. 

Station Manager Wandi Nzimande says, “We’re all about up-skilling our team and strive to teach them everything they need to know. Our aim is to make this a professional team and station; our fundamentals are to take it to the next level.”

Wandi says that their increased viewership is a blessing which they don’t take for granted, 

“I envision us creating premium content we can sell globally, because Soweto TV can be more than a channel, we can be a creative agency and content provider.”

Congrats to Soweto TV. Let's hope it continue to grow and introduce fresh talent to the industry. Hopefully now our groupie media will start giving the channel some coverage and give its stars their spot in the limelight. They have earned it.