SABC 1

SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) which carries programming in English and Nguni.

It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television channels. SABC 1 carried much of its programming over from the TV1 network, which was itself made up of the former TV2, TV3 and TV4 timeshared channels created in the 1980s. SABC 1 generates the widest audience in South Africa due to its programming diversity, airing SABC's longest-running soap-opera, Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo and Skeem Saam.

As of June 2018, the channel started broadcasting in high definition.

As the combined TV2/TV3 network and TV4
The SABC announced in 1980 that it would introduce a network for Black South Africans by 1982, aiming at the creation of a service broadcasting for three hours on weekdays (more on weekends). Like SABC TV, it would be financed by both advertising and government grants.

On 31 December 1981, the two new services were launched: TV2, broadcasting in Zulu and Xhosa; and TV3, broadcasting in Sotho and Tswana, both targeted at a Black urban audience and airing on a timeshared radio frequency. The main network, now called TV1, divided its programming equally between English and Afrikaans programs, as before. Both services also carried selected programming in English, as the language was still a lingua franca for urban blacks and was also the preferred language for many print outlets for the demographic.

TV2 broadcast from Cape Town and had isolated reception in several cities dotted around the South African coastline where TV1 was already receivable, whereas TV3 was broadcast inland near Johannesburg. Within Johannesburg, both TV2 and TV3 could be picked up.

In 1985, a new service called TV4 was introduced, carrying sports and entertainment programming, using the same radio frequency used by both TV2 and TV3, which stopped broadcasting at 9:30 pm.

As CCV
In 1992, TV2, TV3 and TV4 were merged into a unified network called CCV (Contemporary Community Values) on the same channel frequency. A third network was introduced known as TSS, or TopSport Surplus, with TopSport being the brand name for SABC's sport coverage. However, in 1994, it was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), a cultural non-commercial network.

As SABC 1
In 1996, the SABC reorganised its three television networks with the aim of making them more representative of the country's diverse ethnolinguistic groups. These were rebranded as SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3, respectively. SABC 1 took the former TV1 network, mixing English with some of the national languages. The proportion for prime time (18:00 to 21:30) as of the time of rebranding was 29% English, 18% Zulu, 18% Zhosa, 1% Seswati and 1% SiNdebeli, with the remaining third of the offer being given to "multilingual programming" (in two or more languages). Throughout the day, English remained the dominant language, thanks to relays of BBC World during off-hours and a high prevalence of foreign television series. The relaunched SABC 1 gave programmes in Siswati and SiNdebele for the first time on national television. Since TV1/SABC 1 broadcast on the same transmitter network as CCV/SABC 2, it had a wide terrestrial coverage area of 75%. SABC 1's publicity manager Lucky Mochalibane said that Afrikaans in the old TV1 network was given a high percentage of airtime.

Programming
SABC 1 is heavily focused on local entertainment that is aimed towards the youth.

Soapies, dramas and telenovelas
The channel has had the title of 'Mzansi's Storyteller' with popular local dramas, and popular soapies Generations: The Legacy, Uzalo and Skeem Saam. Other famed dramas from past years are Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Mfolozi Street, Intersexions, The Shakespeare in Mzansi Series etc. However, over recent years, the title has been taken by Mzansi Magic.

Series
The channel has a number of comedy, game shows and reality series such as 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, Deal or No Deal. Initially, it would have rights to broadcast local versions of international franchises like The X Factor, but due to financial constraints, the channel currently focuses on local reality competitions.

Music
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, as well as choral music on one of their longest-running show Imizwilili.

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

Religion
On a daily basis the channel showcases short religious shows that cater for African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. On weekends it boasts of religious music shows such as Gospel Avenue and Imvelo.

News and current affairs
The channel has two bulletins, one for the SiSwati/Ndebele speakers, and one for IsiZulu/IsiXhosa speakers. In addition, it includes current affairs programs like Cutting Edge, Expressions and Yilungelo Lakho.

Sports
SABC1 airs Premier Soccer League matches during the week and also have rights to other soccer events like Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup and other international friendlies. However, in August 2019, the channel could not afford broadcast rights to the PSL season, resulting in a blackout of sport on both TV and Radio platforms, thus not broadcasting matches for a certain period. This angered soccer fans who did not have access to SuperSport on DStv, since MultiChoice held the sporting rights. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announced that after meeting with the public broadcaster's board and MultiChoice a resolution had been reached, and soccer matches resumed as normal.

Movies
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.

Children and education
SABC1 features some foreign children's programming, mostly from Disney Junior. In addition, it has the longest-running local kids show, YoTV, which broadcasts five times every weekday and once every weekend, and also has shows under its SABC Education banner that cater for all ages such as high school revision show Geleza Nathi and career shows Ispani and Teenagers on A Mission.