It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television channels. SABC 1 carried much of its programming over from the TV1 network, which was itself made up of the former TV2, TV3 and TV4 timeshared 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.
As of June 2018, the channel started broadcasting in high definition.
History
SABC began trialling its first television service on 5 May 1975 in South Africa's largest cities, and officially launched its first television channel on 6 January 1976 under the name SABC Television/SAUK-Televisie.
As of 1977, the SABC TV service was delivered over eighteen transmitters:
On 1 January 1982, it changed its name to TV1, with the launch of two new services: TV2, broadcasting in Zulu and Xhosa; and TV3, broadcasting in Sotho and Tswana, both targeted at a Black urban audience and airing on a timesharedradio frequency.[3] The main network, now called TV1, divided its programming equally between English and Afrikaans programs, as before. In 1985, a new service called TV4 was introduced, carrying sports and entertainment programming, using the same radio frequency used by both TV2 and TV3, which stopped broadcasting at 9:30 pm.[4]
In 1992, TV2, TV3 and TV4 were merged into a unified network called CCV (Contemporary Community Values) on the same channel frequency.[5] A third network was introduced known as TSS, or TopSport Surplus, with TopSport being the brand name for SABC's sport coverage. However, in 1994, it was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), a cultural non-commercial network.[6]
In 1994, with post-Apartheid democratisation, it was suggested that TV1 should broadcast entirely in English.[7]
In 1996, the SABC reorganised its three television networks with the aim of making them more representative of the country's diverse ethnolinguistic groups. These were rebranded as SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3, respectively.[8] SABC 1 took the former TV1 network, mixing English with some of the national languages. The proportion for prime time (18:00 to 21:30) as of the time of rebranding was 29% English, 18% Zulu, 18% Zhosa, 1% Seswati and 1% SiNdebeli, with the remaining third of the offer being given to "multilingual programming" (in two or more languages). Throughout the day, English remained the dominant language, thanks to relays of BBC World during off-hours and a high prevalence of foreign television series. The relaunched SABC 1 gave programmes in Siswati and SiNdebele for the first time on national television. Since TV1/SABC 1 broadcast on the same transmitter network as CCV/SABC 2, it had a wide terrestrial coverage area of 75%.[8] SABC 1's publicity manager Lucky Mochalibane said that Afrikaans in the old TV1 network was given a high percentage of airtime.
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 Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo and Skeem Saam. Other famed dramas from past years are Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Mfolozi Street, Intersexions, The Shakespeare in Mzansi Series etc. However, over recent years, the title has been taken by Mzansi Magic.
Series
The channel has a number of comedy, game shows and reality series such as 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, Deal or No Deal. Initially, it would have rights to broadcast local versions of international franchises like The X Factor, but due to financial constraints, the channel currently focuses 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, as well as choral music on 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.
News and current affairs
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
SABC1 airs Premier Soccer League matches 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.[9] This angered soccer fans who did not have access to SuperSport on DStv, since MultiChoice held the sporting rights. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Communications 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.[10]
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.
SABC1 features some foreign children's programming, mostly from Disney Junior. In addition, it has the longest-running local kids show, YoTV, which broadcasts five times 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.
