The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced its TV viewership / share for SABC3’s broadcast of the royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton on 29 April.
SABC3 achieved a phenomenal 8.5 AR (All Adults) for the time slot 09:00 – 14:30, against 3.8 ARs (All Adults) of its nearest competitor. Average audience ratings (SABC3) for the same time slot during the previous three Fridays, measured 2.2 ARs. LSM 7 -10 (All Adults) on the channel measured 12.9 ARs (competitor measured 3.3 ARs) as opposed to 1.9 ARs during the previous three weeks.
The channel achieved a whopping 41% share of all available adult TV audiences, against 17.4% of its nearest competitor and 47.4% share for LSM 7-10 (All Adults) against 11% share of its nearest competitor. Some 8, 110,091 viewers (older than the age of four) watched the broadcast.
SABC3 secured the rights from BBC to broadcast this momentous occasion live on the channel. The broadcast commenced three hours ahead of the wedding service and ended just after the historic balcony appearances of Wills and Kate and the two “royal’ kisses.
“The channel is thrilled with its viewership,’ says SABC3 acting GM Ed Worster. “Our turnaround strategy is to restore the channel’s credibility. Over the next six months a lot of work will be done behind the scenes as SABC3 plans to re-launch in October.’
