e.tv has announced a radical move in the wake of Skeem Saam's time change to 19h30 which has put it in direct competition with Scandal!
As from this weekend (13 and 14 July) Scandal! will air on Saturdays and Sundays too, still at 19h30.
As you may have seen in
the TV ratings, Scandal! used to be e.tv's Number 1 show but it's been fluctuating between Number 3 and 4 since since Skeem Saam changed timeslot in March.
Scandal! has lost over a million viewers since then, declining from 4,433,177 viewers for its most watched episode in
February 2024, to 3,292,134 viewers in
June 2024.
We presume this weekend extension is aimed at getting eyeballs back and increasing loyalty to Scandal! by making it daily appointment viewing, seven days a week, like Star Life and Zee World do.
The trouble is it's now dependent on people's weekend schedules which are usually different from the week. A potential pitfall is that people might feel out of touch with it if they tune in on Mondays having missed the weekend episodes.
Alternatively it might keep the show top of mind for people who start Mondays thinking about last night's episode of Scandal! instead of Skeem Saam, making them more likely to tune into Scandal! that night.
The only way to know how viewers respond is to see what they do.
How will this impact on you?
If you ask us, it should rather have changed to 20h30 to be up against Uzalo. The Last Word with Shahan Ramkissoon and Checkpoint currently air then.
We strongly suspect Scandal! would make headlines by outperforming Uzalo in the timeslot.
Here's an extended teaser of Scandal!'s storylines in the coming weeks:
Paternity and Pregnancy Drama:
Tensions escalate as Taps, Mdala, and Tlhogi face unexpected twists in their journey to uncover the truth behind paternity test results.
Peer Pressure:
Tibi finds himself torn between aspirations and financial realities when he joins the Bulldogs, with Neo's well-intentioned efforts leading to unforeseen consequences.
Trouble in Paradise:
Nhlamulo plans a romantic honeymoon for Vuvu to escape past stresses, only to encounter unexpected challenges that threaten to derail their plans.
Family Dynamics and Secrets Revealed:
Emotions run high as Tlhogi receives a mysterious threat regarding the paternity test results, amidst touching moments with Mdala during a pivotal ultrasound.
Personal Growth and Challenges:
Dintle’s quest for truth takes a dangerous turn as she uncovers a shocking revelation about a new character, placing her in a precarious position that tests her resolve and credibility.