SABC Encore

SABC Encore was a 24-hour television channel created by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and distributed through a carriage arrangement with MultiChoice. It was designed as a library-based entertainment service, bringing older South African television programmes back to viewers through digital satellite and digital terrestrial television rather than commissioning a large volume of new programming. Its schedule drew on the SABC archive, particularly popular comedies, dramas, children's programmes, lifestyle shows and variety productions from the 1980s and 1990s. The channel emerged from a longer effort by the SABC to develop additional services alongside its established public television outlets. SABC Africa, an earlier channel concept, had been discontinued in 2008 after weak performance. During the SABC's five-year agreement with MultiChoice, a news channel eventually launched in 2013, while a proposed entertainment service was repeatedly delayed, partly in connection with South Africa's transition from analogue to digital television. The planned service was referred to as SABC Entertainment, but that name did not develop into the final channel. SABC Encore ultimately launched in 2015 on MultiChoice's DStv platform, initially through the Family package and later through the EasyView package. Its identity depended on nostalgia and access to historically significant local programming. The schedule included titles such as 'Sgudi 'Snaysi, Agter Elke Man, Interster, Ubambo Lwami, Pumpkin Patch, Haas Das en Nuuskas, Dikolong and Hlala Kwabafileyo. By repackaging material already held by the public broadcaster, the channel offered viewers a low-cost way to revisit familiar South African television and gave older productions renewed visibility. The channel's distribution relationship with MultiChoice ultimately determined its lifespan. In May 2020, it was announced that SABC Encore would leave the MultiChoice platform when the relevant arrangement ended. Broadcasts ceased shortly after midnight on 1 June 2020. The SABC said that the parties had ended their agreement in 2018 and that a two-year extension had been granted, but the arrangement was not renewable. The broadcaster subsequently indicated that it was considering alternative ways to continue the service, including possible distribution through another platform. The brand was later associated with a digital terrestrial television appearance connected with a memorial service, although this did not restore the channel as a regular nationwide service. SABC Encore therefore remains a discontinued channel brand rather than an active television network.

SABC Encore was developed as an archive-focused television service of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Its background lay partly in the SABC's earlier attempts to broaden its television portfolio beyond its principal public channels. SABC Africa, an earlier service, had ended in 2008 after failing to achieve sufficient performance. The broadcaster later entered a five-year agreement with MultiChoice that included the development of additional channels. A news service launched in 2013, but the planned entertainment service was delayed amid the transition from analogue to digital television. It was discussed under the provisional name SABC Entertainment, with launch expectations moving from late 2013 to 2014, but that proposed identity did not become the final service. SABC Encore launched in 2015 as a 24-hour channel carried by MultiChoice's DStv service. It first appeared in the Family package and was later added to EasyView. Rather than relying primarily on new commissions, the channel used the SABC's substantial programme archive. Its schedule featured older comedies, dramas, children's programmes, lifestyle shows and variety productions, particularly material associated with the 1980s and 1990s. The service gave well-known local programmes a new distribution window and was positioned around familiarity, nostalgia and the preservation of South African television culture. The channel's operation was dependent on its commercial carriage arrangement with MultiChoice. In 2018, according to the SABC's account, the parties ended the agreement and granted the channel a two-year extension. The arrangement was described as non-renewable. On 20 May 2020, the impending closure was announced publicly. SABC Encore stopped broadcasting shortly after midnight on 1 June 2020 and was no longer available through the MultiChoice service from that date. After the closure, the SABC indicated that it was examining alternative distribution options. The possibility of continuing the brand was mentioned again in 2021 during an interview on SAfm. There was also a later apparent use of the brand through digital terrestrial television in connection with a memorial service, but the available reference material does not establish a full relaunch as a regular channel. SABC Encore is consequently best classified as a discontinued South African television channel whose principal operating period was 2015 to 2020.

• 2021

  Possible alternative distribution discussed

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  The SABC again discussed possible ways to continue the channel through another platform.

• 2020

  Broadcasting ends

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  SABC Encore ceased broadcasting shortly after midnight on 1 June following the end of its MultiChoice carriage arrangement.

• 2018

  Original agreement ends with a non-renewable extension

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  The SABC stated that its agreement with MultiChoice ended in 2018 and that the channel received a two-year extension that could not be renewed.

• 2015

  SABC Encore launches on DStv

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  SABC Encore began broadcasting on DStv, initially in the Family package and later on EasyView.

• 2013

  SABC News launches under the MultiChoice agreement

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  A news channel included in the SABC's five-year agreement with MultiChoice launched, while the planned entertainment service remained delayed.

• 2008

  SABC Africa discontinued

  [1]SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org

  The earlier SABC Africa channel concept was discontinued after poor performance, forming part of the background to later efforts to create additional SABC services.

A nostalgia-led archive channel presenting classic South African public-broadcast television to digital satellite and terrestrial audiences.

• Digital television channel · 2015

  SABC Encore

  A 24-hour archive television channel operated by the SABC and carried through a MultiChoice arrangement. Its programming consisted mainly of reruns of classic South African comedies, dramas, children's shows, lifestyle programmes and variety productions from earlier decades. It launched on DStv in 2015 and ceased regular broadcasting in 2020.

• 2020

  End the MultiChoice carriage arrangementStrategy

  Background

  The SABC reported that its agreement with MultiChoice had ended in 2018 and had been extended for two years on a non-renewable basis.

  Action taken

  The channel stopped broadcasting on the MultiChoice platform shortly after midnight on 1 June 2020.

  Aftermath

  The SABC considered alternative distribution routes, but the available material does not document a full return as a regular channel.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch an archive-based entertainment channelProduct launch

  Background

  The SABC sought to expand its television offering under an agreement with MultiChoice after delays affecting a planned entertainment service.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster introduced SABC Encore as a 24-hour rerun channel and secured DStv carriage, first through Family and later through EasyView.

  Aftermath

  The channel established a distribution outlet for older SABC programmes but remained dependent on the MultiChoice carriage relationship.

  Source

1. 1SABC Encoreen.wikipedia.org