Afrikaans not welcome anymore?

This follows after Afrikaanse Nuus om 7 ceased to be broadcast on SABC 2 since 22 June. Originally SABC 2 said this was due to the Fifa 2014 World Cup.

Now, the beans have been spilled by News24 announcing Afrikaans news, drama series Swartwater, magazine show Pasella and nature show 50/50 will be moved to sister channel SABC3.

Produced in Lonehill, soap 7de Laan and musical quiz show Noot vir Noot is not part of the move.

Averaging more than 1.4 million viewers every weekday evening, the Afrikaanse Nuus om 7 remains a ratings juggernaut for SABC2. Soap 7de Laan usually pulls in just under two million viewers per evening, which means advertising sales during these two time-slots should be seen as valuable considering the two used to follow each other. It remains to be seen how the move will influence ratings for the newscast.

Though Afrikaans programming is by no mean a niche market, Mnet holdings have had a long and fruitful relationship with its Afrikaans subscribers. After launching kykNET in 1999, a succession of original programming meant that DStv boasted three Afrikaans channels, kykNET, kykNET and kie and kykNET Musiek.

eNCA also started an Afrikaans news bulletin for kykNET in 2010 broadcast at 7pm weekdays. This seems to indicate Afrikaans programming is being consumed by its audience. SABC 3 also started re-broadcasting Afrikaans shows from yesteryear since 2006.

This year StarSat and OpenviewHD also started broadcasting ASTV (Afrikaanse Sateliet Televisie) to broaden entertainment offering for Afrikaans speakers.

Programming schedules published for SABC 2 show season 39 of Noot vir Noot and Afrikaans sitcom Mooiloop will be broadcast until August.

Due to the World Cup matches being broadcast on SABC 2 there will be no Swartwater, Afrikaans news or Pasella this week, but Noot vir Noot will broadcast as usual on 27 June.