Did Big Brother Mzansi Miss The Mark?

Season 3 of Big Brother Mzansi might have broken a few records, except for viewership. This season, we saw the first ever solo female winner Mphowabadimo take home the R2 million prize money, but just how many people tuned in to watch the finale – or any episode for that matter?

Read more: Mphowabadimo Crowned Big Brother Mzansi Season 3 Winner

According to entertainment commentator Phil Mphela, ratings for the much loved reality show declined during the course of their 10 week run. Phil claims that in January, more than half a million people tuned in to watch the live shows on Sunday.

Then in February, it dropped by 42 000 viewers, and again in March by 91 000.

TV: Big Brother Ratings Decline

The 10-week journey of BBM saw the show’s Sunday episodes on Mzansi Magic peak at 530K viewers in January 2022.

Ratings dropped to 488K in February and dropped again in the sprint to the finale in March, when it peaked at 397K.#KgopoloReports pic.twitter.com/JbomUuVIhe

— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) April 12, 2022

But the figures for the finale might point a slight increase. According to Phil, even though the numbers dropped, the show was still a success.

“Though the ratings declined on Sundays, I would say cumulatively, the show was a success. The revival of the Mzansi iteration got a lot of media coverage and audience interest. It’d be shocked if we didn’t get a season 4 soon. For me, THAT would be defining season.”

A few weeks ago, Michelle Mphowabadimo Vundla was voted season 3 winner. In her acceptance speech, Mpho said “Thank you, Mzansi.” The 27-year-old sangoma from Daveyton said, before the winner was announced, she was drenched in fear. 

 

“I’m excited and anxious, but I’m happy to be here,” Mphowabadimo, said to the BBMzansi host, Lawrence Maleka. Reflecting on her journey in the house which lasted the full 10 weeks, she said: “It has changed me a lot. I have grown, I have healed, I’m a bigger person than I was walking into the house. I am grateful for this experience. I will never be the same.”

Speaking of Big Brother Mzansi, the person walking away with the prize money might have been Mpho, but Mzansi have also selected their winner to be Themba Mabaso. The Ghostnation, as they call themselves, raised some money so he too could have his prize money. 

When he was evicted, he said, “I was on everybody’s mind, f**king up their minds. They didn’t see me coming.”

A Go Fund Me account has been started to help Themba kick start his career and business. When he announced, the page had already been sitting at R90 000. 

“As requested by Ghostnation, we opened a go fund me account for Themba. It’s in his name so his identity document and personal banking details will be needed to withdraw the funds. PayPal account will be linked to the go fund me soon.” the statement read.

He told TshisaLive in an interview that, “At first, I was not aware that it was happening when I didn’t have my phone, but now I know that it’s happening and who is running the page for me so people can send money there. I didn’t want to involve myself in asking for money from people because they had already given me love but they are doing it out of their hearts. I was not prepared for this kind of hype,” said the tattoo artist.

Image credit: Twitter