SABC 1

When the SABC was granted approval to launch a television service in 1971, it was initially planned to have two channels: TV One, broadcasting in English and Afrikaans for white audiences, and TV Bantu, broadcasting in Bantu languages for black audiences.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902945,00.html |title=South Africa: Apartheid Television |magazine=TIME |date=10 May 1971 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220201106/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902945,00.html |archive-date=20 February 2008 }} However, when television was eventually introduced in South Africa, the SABC launched only one channel—SABC TV—which aligned with the planned TV One service. By 1976, the plan for the black channel has been scheduled for 1980.South African TV Makes Debut; Vorster is Wary of Its Dangers. (1976, Jan 06). New York Times (1923-)

In 1980, the SABC announced plans to introduce a network for Black South Africans by 1982. The service was intended to broadcast for three hours on weekdays, with extended hours on weekends. Similar to SABC TV, it would be funded through a combination of advertising revenue and government grants.{{cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Practical-Television/70s/Television-Servicing-UK-1975-03.pdf |title=Television |date=February 1980 |accessdate=5 February 2024 |page=230 }}

On 31 December 1981, two new services were launched: TV2, which broadcast in Zulu and Xhosa, and TV3, which broadcast in Sotho and Tswana. Both channels were aimed at an urban Black audience and operated on a timeshared radio frequency.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rJ-uCwAAQBAJ&dq=TV2+broadcasting+in+Zulu+and+Xhosa+and+TV3+broadcasting+in+Sotho+and+Tswana%2C&pg=PA222|title= 'The Press and Apartheid: Repression and Propaganda in South Africa|first1=William A. |last1=Hachten|first2= C. Anthony|last2=Giffard|publisher=Springer|year=1984|page=222|isbn= 9781349076857}} The main network, now called TV1, continued to divide its programming equally between English and Afrikaans, as it had before. Both TV2 and TV3 also included selected programmes in English, as the language remained a lingua franca for urban Black audiences and was the preferred language for many print media outlets targeting this demographic.{{cite news|title=S. Africa launches TV channel for blacks|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19811230-1.2.24.4|access-date=6 February 2024|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=30 December 1981}}

In 1985, a new service called TV4 was introduced, offering sports and entertainment programming. It utilised the same frequency as TV2 and TV3, which ceased broadcasting at 9:30 pm each evening.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NcQZ1D366t8C&dq=%22TV4%22++&pg=PA68|title=Communication and Democratic Reform in South Africa|first=Robert B.|last=Horwitz|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2001|page= 68|isbn=9781139428699}} By 1991, the two networks (TV2 and TV3) merged with TV4, creating TV2/3/4, adding more imported entertainment during pre-9pm hours, unbalancing the black programming.Broadcasting reforms: fine tuning apartheid, Eric Collins, Richard & Louw, 1991

In 1992, TV2, TV3, and TV4 were merged into a single unified network called CCV (Contemporary Community Values), operating on the same frequency as TV2.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxB1AAAAMAAJ&q=%22contemporary+community+values%22+sabc |title=South Africa: Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa |date=1992 |publisher=South African State Department of Information |isbn=978-0-7970-2576-9 |language=en}} A third network, known as TSS (TopSport Surplus), was also introduced, with TopSport serving as the SABC's brand for sports coverage. TSS used the same frequency as TV3. However, in 1994, TSS was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), a cultural, non-commercial network.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NRDAQAAIAAJ&q=%22february+11%22++|title=The voice, the vision: a sixty year history of the South African Broadcasting Corporation|first1=Malcolm|last1=Theunissen|first2=Victor|last2=Nikitin|first3=Melanie|last3=Pillay|publisher=Advent Graphics|year=1996|page=127|isbn=9780620207867}} The channel adopted Join Our World as its slogan.{{cite news |last1=McLairn |first1=Kimberly J. |title=The Voice of Apartheid Goes Multicultural |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/25/world/the-voice-of-apartheid-goes-multicultural.html |work=The New York Times |date=25 July 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526145831/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/25/world/the-voice-of-apartheid-goes-multicultural.html |archive-date=26 May 2015}}

In 1996, the SABC reorganised its three television networks to better reflect South Africa's diverse ethnolinguistic groups. The networks were rebranded as SABC 3 (originally TV1), SABC 1 (originally TV2 then CCV-TV), and SABC 1 (originally TV3)."1, 2, 3, SABC!", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 9, April-June 1996 SABC 1 took over the former CCV network, offering programming in English alongside several national languages. At the time of the rebranding, prime-time programming (18:00 to 21:30) comprised 29% English, 18% Zulu, 18% Xhosa, 1% Siswati, and 1% isiNdebele, with the remaining third dedicated to "multilingual programming" in two or more languages.

The relaunched SABC 1 marked the first time Siswati and isiNdebele were featured on national television.

The relaunch happened on all three networks on 4 February{{cite news |last1=Zerbst |first1=Jeff |title=SAA's … sorry, SABC's glittering launch |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1996-02-09-saas-sorry-sabcs-glittering-launch/ |work=Mail & Guardian |date=9 February 1996}} followed by a full-time change on 5 February.{{cite news |last1=Golding-Duffy |first1=Jacquie |title=Multitude of voices at new look SABC |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1996-02-02-multitude-of-voices-at-new-look-sabc/ |work=Mail & Guardian |date=2 February 1996}}

On 1 December 1997, SABC 1 introduced a new channel identity used since its 1996 relaunch, while continuing to use Simunye as its slogan.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Janet |title=New-look Simunye channel |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-12-05-new-look-simunye-channel/ |work=Mail & Guardian |date=5 December 1997}}

The channel introduced a new identity at 5pm[https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/ya-mampela-899363 Ya Mampela] on 18 August 2003, presenting itself as Ya Mampela (The Real Thing), aiming to solidify its position among an increasingly urban viewing audience.[https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/ya-mampela-new-sabc1-speaks-language-of-youth-899529 Ya Mampela! New SABC1 speaks language of youth TV's new voices][https://variety.com/2003/tv/news/new-look-is-the-real-thing-for-sabc1-1117891272/ New look is ‘The Real Thing’ for SABC1] A controversial race reversal advertisement (PF Jones) appeared to tie in with the relaunch, over time, false information had emerged online that the advert was banned.[https://www.bizcommunity.africa/Article/410/12/176744.html Favourite African adverts - Wes Phelan] The slogan was seen with criticism from Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini, who in February 2005 wanted the channel to ditch the phrase citing "improper use" of the Zulu language.[https://variety.com/2005/tv/news/south-african-net-tongue-tied-1117917829/ South African net tongue-tied] The controversial PF Jones advert, with the channel's slogan appearing at the end, was dropped in the wake of the language controversy.

SABC 1 is heavily focused on local entertainment targeted at the youth.

The channel has been known as 'Mzansi's Storyteller' due to its popular local dramas, including the well-known soap operas Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo, and Skeem Saam. Other notable dramas from past years include Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Mfolozi Street, Intersexions, and The Shakespeare in Mzansi Series, among others. However, in recent years, this title has been adopted by Mzansi Magic.

The channel features a variety of comedy shows, game shows, and reality series, including Nyan'Nyan, Now or Never, It Takes a Village, Plate it up, The next big thing, Ses' Top La, Friends Like These, The Remix, Lip Sync Battle, and Deal or No Deal. Initially, the channel had the rights to broadcast local versions of international franchises like The X Factor, but due to financial constraints, it now focuses primarily on local reality competitions.

The channel airs some of the latest local urban music and playlists on shows like Live Amp and Koze Kuse, while also focusing on traditional indigenous music on shows like Roots and choral music on one of its longest-running shows, Imizwilili.

SABC 1 airs local informative magazine shows, ranging from its longest-running magazine show, Selimathunzi, to more recent and fresh shows like Throwback Thursday and weekend breakfast shows like Mzansi Insider, among others. Additionally, SABC 1 hosts interactive talk shows such as Daily Thetha and The Chatroom.

On a daily basis, the channel showcases short religious shows catering to African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. On weekends, it features religious music shows such as Gospel Avenue and Imvelo.

The channel has two bulletins: one for SiSwati/isiNdebele speakers and another for IsiZulu/IsiXhosa speakers. In addition, it includes current affairs programmes such as Cutting Edge, Expressions, and Yilungelo Lakho.

SABC1 airs Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches during the weekend and also holds broadcasting rights for other football events such as the Africa Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup, and Bafana Bafana And Banyana Banyana international friendlies.

However, in August 2019, the channel could not afford the broadcast rights to the PSL season, resulting in a blackout of sports on both TV and radio platforms and the suspension of match broadcasts for a period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/sport/psl-confirms-sabc-blackout|title=Football fans see red after SABC PSL blackout|website=eNCA|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}} This angered soccer fans who did not have access to SuperSport on DStv, as MultiChoice held the sports rights. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announced that, following a meeting with the public broadcaster's board and MultiChoice, a resolution had been reached, and soccer matches resumed as normal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/sport/sabc-blackout-psl-sponsors-threaten-pull-plug|title=SABC blackout: PSL sponsors threaten to pull the plug|website=eNCA|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}

The network airs classic action, horror, drama, comedy, sci-fi, adventure, thriller, romance, and fantasy movies on certain weekends. SABC 1 also broadcasts Kicking Kung Fu movies on Fridays.

{{Main article|List of children and youth programs produced by the SABC}}

SABC 1 features some foreign children's programming, mostly from Disney Junior. In addition, it airs the longest-running local kids' show, YoTV, which broadcasts five times a week and once every weekend. The channel also offers shows under its SABC Education banner that cater to all ages, such as the high school revision show Geleza Nathi and career-focused shows like Ispani and Teenagers on A Mission.

This occurred on October 31, 2014 when the 16 actors were fired. Due to in a shortage of R500 Million (South African rand) Generations (South African TV series) aired from 1993 to 2014. From the 30th of September to 30 November 2014, the series were on publicly hiatus.

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Category:Television stations in South Africa

Category:English-language television stations in South Africa

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1981