Switched at Birth is an American family drama television series created by Lizzy Weiss which revolves around two teenagers who were switched at birth and grew up in very different environments, who find each other and begin to take an active part in each other's lives.
The series premiered in the USA on ABC Family on 6 June, 2011.
Switched at Birth premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Friday 2 December 2011, at 20h30. It moved to M-Net Series Showcase for Season 2 after the former channel became defunct in 2013 and later aired on M-Net Series Zone as well (from Season 2).
About the Series
Switched at Birth, a one-hour scripted drama, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital.
Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working-class neighbourhood.
Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.
Switched at Birth stars newcomer Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett as John Kennish; Lea Thompson as Kathryn Kennish; Lucas Grabeel as Toby Kennish and Sean Berdy as Emmett Bledsoe.
Lizzy Weiss, Paul Stupin and John Ziffren serve as executive producers.
Special Notes
Season 1
Season 1 aired on M-Net Series from 2 December, 2011 to 23 November, 2012. It went on hiatus after 10 episodes to accommodate a similar hiatus in the USA and returned with Episode 11 on Friday 13 July 2012, at 20h30.
Season 2
Season 2 originally aired on M-Net Series Showcase from 17 August to 21 September, 2013, beginning with a double bill on Saturday 17 August 2013, at 19h00. Thereafter new episodes broadcast in a quadruple bill weekly, on Saturdays at 17h30.
Season 3
Season 3 premiered on M-Net Series Showcase on Monday 10 February 2014, at 18h30. It went on hiatus after Episode 11 (which aired on 21 April) and resumed with Episode 12 in a new timeslot on Wednesday 16 July 2014, at 18h30.