SABC 1 was established in 1996 following the SABC's restructuring of its television channels. Much of its programming was carried over from the TV1 network, which had itself been formed from the timeshared channels TV2, TV3, and TV4 in the 1980s. SABC 1 attracts the largest audience in South Africa due to its diverse programming, including SABC's longest-running soap opera, Generations: The Legacy, as well as Uzalo and Skeem Saam.
As of June 2018, the channel began broadcasting in high definition.[2]
History
Initial TV Bantu plan
When the SABC was granted approval to launch a television service in 1971, it was initially planned to have two channels: TV One, broadcasting in English and Afrikaans for white audiences, and TV Bantu, broadcasting in Bantu languages for black audiences.[3] However, when television was eventually introduced in South Africa, the SABC launched only one channel—SABC TV—which aligned with the planned TV One service.
As the combined TV2/TV3 network and TV4
In 1980, the SABC announced plans to introduce a network for Black South Africans by 1982. The service was intended to broadcast for three hours on weekdays, with extended hours on weekends. Similar to SABC TV, it would be funded through a combination of advertising revenue and government grants.[4]
On 31 December 1981, two new services were launched: TV2, which broadcast in Zulu and Xhosa, and TV3, which broadcast in Sotho and Tswana. Both channels were aimed at an urban Black audience and operated on a timesharedradio frequency.[5] The main network, now called TV1, continued to divide its programming equally between English and Afrikaans, as it had before. Both TV2 and TV3 also included selected programmes in English, as the language remained a lingua franca for urban Black audiences and was the preferred language for many print media outlets targeting this demographic.[6]
In 1985, a new service called TV4 was introduced, offering sports and entertainment programming. It utilised the same frequency as TV2 and TV3, which ceased broadcasting at 9:30 pm each evening.[7]
As CCV
In 1992, TV2, TV3, and TV4 were merged into a single unified network called CCV (Contemporary Community Values), operating on the same frequency as TV2.[8] A third network, known as TSS (TopSport Surplus), was also introduced, with TopSport serving as the SABC's brand for sports coverage. TSS used the same frequency as TV3. However, in 1994, TSS was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), a cultural, non-commercial network.[9]
As SABC 1
In 1996, the SABC reorganised its three television networks to better reflect South Africa's diverse ethnolinguistic groups. The networks were rebranded as SABC 3 (originally TV1), SABC 1 (originally TV2 then CCV-TV), and SABC 1 (originally TV3).[10] SABC 1 took over the former CCV network, offering programming in English alongside several national languages. At the time of the rebranding, prime-time programming (18:00 to 21:30) comprised 29% English, 18% Zulu, 18% Xhosa, 1% Siswati, and 1% isiNdebele, with the remaining third dedicated to "multilingual programming" in two or more languages.
The relaunched SABC 1 marked the first time Siswati and isiNdebele were featured on national television.
Programming
SABC 1 is heavily focused on local entertainment targeted at the youth.
Soapies, dramas and telenovelas
The channel has been known as 'Mzansi's Storyteller' due to its popular local dramas, including the well-known soap operas Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo, and Skeem Saam. Other notable dramas from past years include Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Mfolozi Street, Intersexions, and The Shakespeare in Mzansi Series, among others. However, in recent years, this title has been adopted by Mzansi Magic.
Series
The channel features a variety of comedy shows, game shows, and reality series, including Nyan'Nyan, Now or Never, It Takes a Village, Plate it up, The next big thing, Ses' Top La, Friends Like These, The Remix, Lip Sync Battle, and Deal or No Deal. Initially, the channel had the rights to broadcast local versions of international franchises like The X Factor, but due to financial constraints, it now focuses primarily on local reality competitions.
Music
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 and choral music on one of its longest-running shows, Imizwilili.
Talk and magazine
SABC 1 airs local informative magazine shows, ranging from its longest-running magazine show, Selimathunzi, to more recent and fresh shows like Throwback Thursday and weekend breakfast shows like Mzansi Insider, among others. Additionally, SABC 1 hosts interactive talk shows such as Daily Thetha and The Chatroom.
Religion
On a daily basis, the channel showcases short religious shows catering to African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. On weekends, it features religious music shows such as Gospel Avenue and Imvelo.
News and current affairs
The channel has two bulletins: one for SiSwati/isiNdebele speakers and another for IsiZulu/IsiXhosa speakers. In addition, it includes current affairs programmes such as Cutting Edge, Expressions, and Yilungelo Lakho.
Sports
SABC1 airs Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches during the week and also holds broadcasting rights for other football events, such as the Africa Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup, and various international friendlies. However, in August 2019, the channel could not afford the broadcast rights to the PSL season, resulting in a blackout of sports on both TV and radio platforms and the suspension of match broadcasts for a period.[11] This angered soccer fans who did not have access to SuperSport on DStv, as MultiChoice held the sports rights. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announced that, following a meeting with the public broadcaster's board and MultiChoice, a resolution had been reached, and soccer matches resumed as normal.[12]
Movies
The network airs classic action, horror, drama, comedy, sci-fi, adventure, thriller, romance, and fantasy movies on certain weekends. SABC 1 also broadcasts Kicking Kung Fu movies on Fridays.
SABC 1 features some foreign children's programming, mostly from Disney Junior. In addition, it airs the longest-running local kids' show, YoTV, which broadcasts five times a week and once every weekend. The channel also offers shows under its SABC Education banner that cater to all ages, such as the high school revision show Geleza Nathi and career-focused shows like Ispani and Teenagers on A Mission.
