SABC 1 viewers are in for some disappointing news after the popular show was canned.
The financially embattled public broadcaster confirmed to ZAlebs that it has taken the drastic decision not to recommission Zaziwa for a new season. Zaziwa was once dubbed South Africa's most-watched talk show on the SABC channels. It dominated the Thursday primetime slot at 19:30 and garnered over 4 million viewers.
The show had Mzansi sitting on the edge of its seats to watch their favorite celebrities who would take them down memory lane. It was a fan favourite until, out of nowhere, it was put on ice.
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The show moved again from its original slot and drew a bleak future as it was hit by a decline in ratings. In 2017 the public broadcaster abruptly pulled the magazine music show from its Sunday night timeslot of 20:30 and replaced with an old broadcast series Shaka Zulu and repeats of Zaziwa were aired at 11:30 pm on some Sunday evenings.
This set tongues wagging and left its prospective viewers curious and hanging high and dry. Last year the show's presenter Pearl Modiadie hosted a Q&A session on her Instagram page where she spoke about her life and one follower asked if Zaziwa will ever return to their TV screens. Pearl was honest when said "When it does [return], I will put it out there right now I don't know. I've enjoyed it for the past 5 years, let's wait and see what happens next"
Yesterday, SABC Spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said, "A decision was taken not to recommission the show for another season, the channel is, however, exploring other content ideas and formats in the slot, allowing room to curate a diverse offering to viewers..”
The SABC has been hardest hit by financial woes recently, and canned various shows including Isidingo and some have been under severe scrutiny." SABC programmes are subjected to a review exercise for recommissioning with the intention of ensuring that the channels are able to deliver and become competitive platforms' said SABC Spokesperson.
Another show whose future is still uncertain is Yo-Tv, the long-standing teen variety show went off air and has been airing repeats but the SABC Spokesperson said it still on break it will make a comeback.
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Zaziwa was a perfect platform for Mzansi's A-list celebrities to take viewers down memory lane about their upbringing and their journey into showbiz with their favorite music that seems to have shaped their journeys.
