Reality sequels hold their own

For Idols, the Sunday show obtained a 42% share amongst M-Net subscribers, a 25% share from the digital base, and 26% has been recorded amongst High Income viewers. In terms of the Total TV Population, an average of 3.9ARs has been achieved thus far. This translates to over 700 000 eyes on screen per show. (Important to note is that this data only measures in-home viewership).

Oracle Airtime Sales further analysed the viewership by cultural group and found that 44% of the Idols viewership is from the non-white community. The profile of the Idols viewer (Total TV Population) leans strongly towards the R8 000+ income bracket, and women. Half of the audience falls into the younger than 35 year age category and is fairly even split between English and Afrikaans.

The results show on Monday is also attracting notable audiences. It is the second-most watched Monday show across all three audiences analysed. Currently it averages 6.7ARs amongst High Income viewers, 10.7ARs and 9ARs within analogue and digital subscribers, respectively. Essentially, the results show has grown viewership in this time slot by 68% for High Income, 120% for digital and 23% amongst analogue.

As far as Big Brother Africa is concerned, the consistently best-performing time slot is the Sunday nomination/eviction show between 18h00 and 19h00 on Channel 37. The show on 10 August obtained the highest ratings to date: 6.4ARs amongst DStv adults.

In the absence of viewership ratings outside South Africa, the Big Brother Africa website community provides an indication of how the show has been received on the rest of the continent. Currently the Big Brother Africa website community boasts more than 90 000 active members and the country breakdown reinforces the popularity of the show in Africa and beyond. The top 5 participating countries are : Nigeria, South Africa, UK, Kenya, Ghana.

Interesting to note, are the positions held by the following countries : 13th United States, 15th Ireland, 16th Australia, 17th Canada, 18th Pakistan and 20th Norway.

The Big Brother Africa website has registered 13 538 497 page impressions to date, as opposed to Big Brother II page impressions for the same period, which numbered 8 480 980 - an increase of 60%.