RAMS 2002B - Television viewing

The TV scene has shown a substantial amount of change in the period following RAMS 2002A. The biggest winner remains e.tv, as was the case in the last survey, with SABC1 close behind. Individual station trends across the week follow the pattern seen in RAMS 2002A.
In total though, TV viewership has remained largely stable, as stations grow at others' expense. Monday to Friday viewing is pegged at 65.3%, Saturday at 63.8%, and Sunday at 61.8%, with a decline in Free State viewers. Number of hours spent watching the medium has also remained stable. People watch on average 3.2 hours of TV a day, and 22.6 hours per week.

SABC1

Viewing on weekdays, which was previously stable, is now up significantly for the station, with 14.301-million people tuning in (48.3%). During the week, the station's female, 16-24, and LSM 9 demographic is also up. Similarly, SABC1 is up on a Saturday, to 12.294-million (41.6%), also growing its rural, KwaZulu-Natal, female, 16-34, as well as LSM 3 and 9 base. On Sundays, the station has grown its male base.

SABC2

The station is holding on weekdays, and declining over the weekend. Saturday viewing is down to 18.3% from 21.1% in the previous period, with 5.404-million viewers. On this day, it is down demographically in the Western Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, North West, in Durban, Cape Town and the Reef, and in 16-49s and LSM 4-8. SABC2 is also down on Sundays to 17.8% (5.273-million), and in the Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, male, 16-49, and LSM 4-7 demographics.

SABC3

Viewing on a Monday to Friday is trending downwards, but not significantly. The station's levels remain stable over the weekend.

e.tv

This is the only station to have shown growth right across the week. On a Monday to Friday, viewing is up to 23.3% from 21.7% in the previous period. This gives the station 6.899-million weekday viewers, up specifically in rural areas, KwaZulu-Natal, in 16-24s, and LSM 5. On a Saturday, the station has grown to 7.541-million viewers, or 25.5%, with gains in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, 16-34, and the LSM 4-5 demographic. Sunday viewing is up to 6.376-million (21.6%), with growth in metro areas, and in LSM 1-5.

M-Net

M-Net is down on the weekends. On a Monday to Friday, the station is trending down, but not significantly, with losses in the LSM 9 demographic. Viewership is at 1.468-million (5%). Viewing is down significantly on a Saturday, to 1.387-million, or 4.7%, with audience shifts in males and LSM 6. Sunday viewing is also down significantly, to 1.711-million (5.8%), with losses in cities and large towns, Western Cape, males, and LSM 9-10.

DStv

DStv is trending up across the week. Below is a table of the top five channels viewed on DStv during the week.

Bop TV

This station's levels have remained stable, except on Saturdays, when they are trending downwards.

Source: South African Advertising Research Foundation, www.saarf.co.za.