Bring out the champagne and let's pop a drunken cork to some good news on the SABC for once... you can now actually see SABC1 and 3 instead of the blurry picture we've been forced to suffer for too long.
Both channels are now available in HD,
if you have a digital broadcast signal. According to the SABC, SABC2 will follow in July.
If you watch SABC1 or 3 via a digital platform (e.g. OpenView HD, DStv etc.) you'll notice a clarifying difference - once you manage to get to the HD channel.
On DStv, they have two SABC1s and 3s so you have to do a weird maneouvre on the remote control to get to the HD version.
With SABC1 you need to press 191, which gives you the standard version, and then you need to push the right button to get to the HD channel. Same thing with 193 for 3.
The HD is only available on digital broadcast platforms because of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) situation. Once the government implements the long awaited DTT across the country - if they ever do! - then all viewers will see the SABC channels in HD because analogue will no longer exist.
The HD launch conicides with the start of the FIFA World Cup, which will air on SABC1 from this Friday (15 June).
Here's a link to deets on the schedule changes in case you missed them:
Where to find your fave soapies during the 2018 FIFA World Cup