The SABC recently announced its plans to launch new language-based television channels‚ which are set to “ensure that the SABC audiences are better served in the language of their choice‚” according to COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.Although the launch dates are still unknown‚ TMG Entertainment understands that the new channels will be available on the SABC's digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform and will also be available on various pay-TV operators' bouquets.The language segmented channels will be run in addition to the existing SABC1‚ SABC2‚ SABC3 and the SABC News and SABC Encore channels. One channel‚ the Sotho TV channel will cater to Sesotho‚ Setswana and Sepedi languages. Zulu‚ Xhosa‚ Siswati and Ndebele will form part of a second Nguni focused TV channel. A third channel will focus on Tsonga and Venda language speakers‚ while the fourth SABC TV channel will be for Afrikaans viewers.In addition‚ Motsoeneng is set on increasing local content will for SABC1‚ SABC2 and SABC3 by placing more focus on languages such as Afrikaans‚ Tsonga and Venda."As the public service broadcaster we continue to thrive in ensuring that all national languages achieve equal treatment as per our constitutional obligations‚" says Motsoeneng in a statement.This move comes after SABC’s pressure to maintain its TV audience as satellite‚ subscription and free-to-air channels in South Africa continues to grow.In 2013‚ e.tv commissioned new local content across its various channels‚ including some on its sister company Platco Digital’s FTA platform‚ OpenView HD‚ in an attempt to appeal to a wide and diverse audience.In yet another effort to take on the SABC‚ the free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster announced scheduling changes to its line-up early last year‚ where it revealed new shows which aired during primetime throughout the year including Umlilo‚ Matatiele and Rhythm City‚ which has seen copious amounts of support from fans.Former e.tv Head of Channels‚ Monde Twala‚ was quoted as saying‚ “e.tv aims to be at the forefront of this growth [in local TV content] by not only introducing a high number of new and local genres‚ [but] we have also improved story-telling‚ production and directing. This ensures that our content is competitive.”More recently e.tv and M-Net’s local content channel‚Mzansi Magic‚ have introduced seven new drama series’ between them.There have been four from Mzansi Magic: Doubt‚ Greed and Desire‚ iGazi and Ring of Lies. There have been a further three from e.tv: The Heist‚ The Kingdom: UKhakhayi and The Alliance‚ while other locally made and produced shows are reappearing for a second or third season.Other local content shows such as Date My Family‚ Our Perfect Wedding‚ Saints and Sinners – which has now been replaced by iGazi – are always trending subjects on social media platforms.According to TVSA [www.tvsa.co.za]‚ OPW has more than a million viewers‚ with Isibaya hot on its heels with just under a million.Therefore‚ it’s safe to say gone are the days of being force-fed American culture. South Africans are now getting to enjoy watching their own stories told...