The SABC content hub is in ICU, says Florence Masebe
Veteran actress Florence Masebe has warned that the SABC is in big danger of not meeting its content and financial obligations, and that programming was "close to frozen" at the public broadcaster.
Florence took to Twitter this week to paint a grim picture of the apparent conditions at the SABC at the moment, warning that the broadcaster might soon have to air repeats to fill its TV schedules.
All content gets paid for. Local and foreign. Arguing that playing less local content saves money is silly. Put better systems in place.
— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) June 13, 2017
Every crisis at the SABC affects creative content producers and everyone in that value chain in the most irreparable manner. No new work.
— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) June 13, 2017
SABC content hub, is in ICU. The drama section is critical bit stable. This means NO WORK for actors and crew for a long time.
— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) June 13, 2017
Get ready for even more repeats for which actors will still need to put up a fight to get paid.
— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) June 13, 2017
However, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told TshisaLIVE that there was nothing to worry about and that the broadcaster would meet all its financial and scheduling obligations.
Kaizer said that the public broadcaster would make sure that TV signals remained on and actors didn't go hungry.
"These are rumours that have always been around. It has never happened before, as previously predicted, and it won't happen now. We are talking to producers and negotiating deals. We are transparent with our challenges but are meeting our obligations," he said.
Chief Operating Officer at Word of Mouth Productions, Khumbulani Hlongwane, told TshisaLIVE that the production house did not have a problem with the SABC and would continue to provide the broadcaster with content.
Word of Mouth Productions produces a number of big shows including soapie Muvhango.
"We are still sending content to the SABC and we are not aware of any programming issues at the broadcaster. We have also made an arrangement with the SABC for payments and within the contractual terms of that agreement they are current meeting their obligations," Khumbulani said.
An insider at Endemol SA, which produces soapie Isidingo, said that the company had recently submitted two new programs for the broadcaster to air in July and that it would continue to provide content as long as the SABC met its payment obligations.
"Our relationship with the SABC is good and our freelance producers have been paid," the insider said.
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