The popular South African TV show Uzalo‘s experiencing a significant drop in viewership. This is despite still leading the ratings according to the latest figures from the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA).

 

As of June 2024, Uzalo, produced by Stained Glass Production co-owned by Gugu Zuma-Ncube, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, has seen its viewership decrease from 5 228 549 in May 2024 to 4 997 824.

“Sometimes actors would like to help by suggesting a creative strategy, but they are scared. It’s not because the producers are not approachable, but jobs are scarce. One will never know what could put them in trouble. That’s why actors might have interesting ideas, but they’re scared to tell the producers about them,” said the insider.

Uzalo set a TV record in 2018 with 10 million viewers, a number that briefly rose to 11 million. Since its debut in 2015, it has consistently been the most-watched show in Mzansi. However, the recent decline has brought it close to the viewership numbers of Skeem Saam, which is currently in second place with 4 465 467 viewers.

According to the insider, producers are considering various strategies to boost engagement, amid feedback from social media users who find the current storylines dull.

Uzalo

“Some suggest that we bring back the old actors. But to be honest, it’s not about the actors. It’s about how the storyline is written and how the actor’s directed to portray it. Yes, we’re still the number one, but it looks like we’re heading for disaster, ” said the insider.

King David Mokwevho, the series producer, remains positive.

He said viewers are enjoying the transformation of the television landscape and are also enjoying getting to choose rather than being glued during a specific broadcast time.

“We take pride in still being the most-watched show on SABC,” said Mokwevho.