At times it seems as if there's nothing but reality TV on the screen but the top watched reality show, 'Dance Your Butt Off' on SABC 1 attracted 10.2% of the total adult viewing audience - that's 2.847-million viewers (aged 15+). In contrast, the friendly between Bafana Bafana and Burkina Faso, also on SABC 1, pulled 5.579-million viewers, a 19.9% share of the TV audience.
The 10.2% share of audience for August's top-ranked reality show is far above the 4% for the second-ranking show, eTV's 'Cheaters', which attracted 1.128-million viewers. The same channel's 'Fear Factor' ranked as the third biggest reality show in August, commanding a 3.9% share of audience, with 1.09-million adult viewers (15+).
SABC 2's 'American Idol' had slightly more eyes on screen than the fifth-ranking 'Survivor: Tocantins' on SABC 3 - both had a 3.8% share of audience, with 1.061-million and 1.057-million viewers respectively.
'Idols SA' attracted only 0.9% of the total TV audience, with the flighting on M-Net pulling just over 252 000 viewers and on Mzansi Magic just over 250 000. 'Minute to Win It', on M-Net, ranked 17th in the top 20 reality show rankings for August, with just under 159 000 viewers.
Live sporting events drew South African viewers' attention during August. Of the top 20 shows watched in August 2011, six covered sporting events.
Five of the overall top 20 shows were drama programmes, with 'Zone 14' pulling 18.5% of audience, and 'Intsika' pulling 17.6% (both on SABC 1).
Two news bulletins made it into the top 20, the Xhosa news in fifth place with 14.5% of viewers and the Zulu news in 10th with 13.7% of viewers.
The top of the pile is still 'Generations'. The only soapie to make it into the top 20, it attracted a massive 6.828-million viewers, almost a quarter of the entire adult TV universe.
To put into perspective, the screening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening match between South African and Mexico drew only 346 800 more viewers (28.8% share) than South Africa's top soapie did this August.
| No | Show | Channel | Share of audience | Total viewers |
| 1 | Dance Your Butt Off | SABC 1 | 10.2% | 2 847 744 |
| 2 | Cheaters | e-TV | 4.0% | 1 128 473 |
| 3 | Fear Factor | e-TV | 3.9% | 1 090 246 |
| 4 | American Idol | SABC 2 | 3.8% | 1 061 080 |
| 5 | Survivor: Tocantins | SABC 3 | 3.8% | 1 057 053 |
| 6 | Forgive and Forget | e-TV | 3.6% | 1 015 592 |
| 7 | Axn | e-TV | 3.6% | 994 247 |
| 8 | Who Wants to Marry My Dad | SABC 2 | 3.3% | 928 971 |
| 9 | The Close Up: A Showbiz Report Special | e-TV | 3.1% | 857 538 |
| 10 | Style By Jury | e-TV | 2.9% | 825 437 |
| 11 | My Super Sweet 16 | SABC 3 | 2.5% | 709 709 |
| 12 | Skin Deep | e-TV | 2.3% | 637 822 |
| 13 | Spirit Of South Africa: John Edward Psychic Medium | SABC 3 | 1.5% | 418 513 |
| 14 | Idols SA | M-Net | 0.9% | 252 695 |
| 15 | Idols SA | Mzansi Magic | 0.9% | 250 239 |
| 16 | Fear Factor International | e-TV | 0.8% | 213 626 |
| 17 | Minute to Win It | M-Net | 0.6% | 158 823 |
| 18 | The Bachelor | Vuzu | 0.4% | 123 758 |
| 19 | In his presence - With Pastor Emmanuel Ogbechie | Soweto TV | 0.4% | 115 935 |
| 20 | America's Next Top Model | Vuzu | 0.3% | 91 189 |
Source: SAARF TAMS Overnights, 01/08/2011-28/08/2011)
