SABC 1 is a community public service South African television channel broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation which carries programming in English and Nguni. It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television channels. SABC 1 carried much of its programming over from the defunct CCV channel, which was itself made up of the old TV2, TV3 and TV4 channels created in the 1980s. SABC 1 generates the widest audience in South Africa due to its programming diversity, airing SABC's longest running soap-opera, Generations, Uzalo and Skeem Saam.
History
On 1 January 1982, two services were introduced, TV2 broadcasting in Zulu and Xhosa and TV3 broadcasting in Sotho and Tswana, both targeted at a Black urban audience. The main channel, now called TV1, was divided evenly between English and Afrikaans, as before. In 1985, a new service called TV4 was introduced, carrying sports and entertainment programming, using the channel shared by TV2 and TV3, which stopped broadcasting at 9:30pm. In 1992, TV2, TV3 and TV4 were combined into a new service called CCV. A third channel was introduced known as TSS, or TopSport Surplus, TopSport being the brand name for the SABC's sport coverage, but this was replaced by NNTV, an educational, non-commercial channel, in 1994. In 1996, the SABC reorganised it's three TV channels with the aim of making them more representative of the various language groups. These new channels were called SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3.
Programming
SABC 1 is heavily focused on local entertainment that is aimed towards the youth.
Soapies, Dramas and Telenovelas
The channel has had the title of 'Mzansi's Storyteller' with popular local dramas, and popular soapies, Uzalo and Skeem Saam. Other famed dramas from past years are Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Intersexions, The Shakespeare in Mzansi Series, etc. However, over the recent years, the title has been taken by Mzansi Magic.
The channel airs some of the latest local urban music and playlists on shows like Live Amp and Koze Kuse, while also focusing on traditional indigenous music on shows like Roots, as well as choral music on their one of their longest running show Imizwilili.
Talk and Magazine
SABC 1 airs local informative magazine shows, from its longest running magazine show Selimathunzi, to more recent and fresh show like Throwback Thursday and weekend breakfast shows like Mzansi Insider among others. In addition, SABC 1 hosts interactive talk shows such as Daily Thetha and The Chatroom.
Religion
On a daily basis the channel showcases short religious shows that cater for African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. On weekends it boasts of religious music shows such as Gospel Avenue and Imvelo.
The channel has two bulletins, one for the SiSwati/Ndebele speakers, and one for IsiZulu/IsiXhosa speakers. In addition, it includes current affairs programs like Cutting Edge, Expressions and Yilungelo Lakho.
Sports
The channel is known to broadcast the Premier Soccer League during the week and also have rights to other soccer events like Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup and other international friendlies. However, in August 2019, the channel could not afford broadcast rights to the PSL season, resulting in a blackout of sport on both TV and Radio platforms, thus not broadcasting matches for a certain period. This angered soccer fans who did not have access to SuperSport on DStv, since MultiChoice held the sporting rights. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Commications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announced that after meeting with the public broadcaster's board and MultiChoice a resolution had been reached, and soccer matches resumed as normal.
Movies
The channel is known for broadcasting classic action and drama movies on certain weekends.
Children and Education
The channel is known for some of its international children's shows, mostly from Disney Junior. In addition, SABC 1 has the longest running local kids show YoTV, which broadcasts twice every weekday and once every weekend, and also has shows under its SABC Education banner that cater for all ages such as high school revision show Geleza Nathi and career shows Ispani and Teenagers on A Mission.
