SABC1 drama series 'Tjovitjo' breaks television record

The recently introduced Sunday prime-time schedule offering for SABC1 which started last week is proving to be a success — if the latest released figures by the channel are to be believed. 

The schedule strategy dubbed ‘Spring Burst’ has disrupted Sunday television viewing patterns as one of the channel... nah scratch that ... actually the channel's most anticipated show, Tjovitjo, broke television records. 

According to the SABC, the debut episode of Tjovitjo pulled an unprecedented 5.7-million viewers on its timeslot this past Sunday 20 August at 20h00. A record for the books. 

The most ground-breaking series of our time Yizo Yizo was pulling around 3-million viewers in its hey day. Gaz'lam tethered around the same number to about 4-million. Tshisa attracted around 4.7-million whilst Zone 14 was pulling 4.5-million viewers on a good week. 

Tjovitjo becomes the first series in South Africa to hit that 5.7-million number. Just to be clear, we are not talking about soapies just a series with a limited run.  

Other local shows which started last Sunday on SABC1 also registered high rankings — with Intersexions S1, in the 19h30 timeslot drawing 4.3 million viewers and Shaka Zulu (The Series) at 20h30 scoring 2.3 million. 

We will wait to see if the Broadcasting Research Council of South Africa's monthly television ratings figures match the SABC's but judging by the response on Sunday, I don't think there will be that much difference. Tjovitjo talk is everywhere.