Business
Where Did the Numbers Go? South Africa’s TV Ratings Disappear Behind a Paywall
Broadcasters, journalists, and researchers are in the dark, and the timing couldn’t be worse
If you’ve ever wondered how many people actually tune in to Skeem Saam, Uzalo, or the evening news, well, you’re not alone, and you’re out of luck. As of December 2024, South Africa’s once-public television ratings have quietly vanished, pulled behind a paywall with no formal announcement to the public.
And just like that, a country that once prided itself on knowing what was hot on screen no longer has any idea what South Africans are actually watching.
From public knowledge to private property
For nearly a decade, the Broadcasting Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA) provided accessible audience figures through its Television Audience Measurement Survey (TAMS). These monthly updates gave insights into the most-watched programmes on SABC, e.tv, and DStv, a valuable source for media houses, researchers, advertisers, and curious viewers alike.
But since late 2024, that transparency has come to a sudden halt. The BRCSA, a privately run organisation funded by the very broadcasters it reports on, now requires a paid subscription to access the same data that was once freely available.
Their reasoning? The data’s credibility was allegedly being undermined by third parties extracting it incorrectly and using it out of context. According to BRCSA spokesperson Gary Whitaker, charging for access helps preserve the value of their system and prevents competitors from misrepresenting trends.
Industry backlash: “Transparency is gone”
Not everyone’s convinced. Veteran TV executives and analysts have slammed the move, calling it a blow to industry transparency. Independent journalists no longer have access to reliable viewership rankings. Academics and postgraduate researchers at public universities say they cannot afford commercial data subscriptions, leaving major gaps in media research and discourse.
One executive summarised the general mood: “It’s impossible for the public to know what’s true anymore.”
For a sector already under strain from falling viewership and shifting digital habits, the blackout has only intensified confusion.
What the numbers used to show
Before the data disappeared, there were already signs of a steady decline in traditional TV viewership. Between October 2023 and October 2024, MyBroadband’s analysis of BRCSA data revealed:
-
SABC 1 lost over 6 percent of its top 20 viewership
-
SABC 2 dropped by a staggering 27 percent
-
e.tv fell by over 16 percent
-
Even with DStv gaining slightly, total linear TV audience across major platforms dropped by nearly 11 percent
In parallel, on-demand streaming nudged upward, although still modest compared to global trends, from 15 percent in 2021 to 18 percent by 2023.
Behind the blackout: A broken measurement system?
There’s another layer to the story. The underlying panel used to measure TV audiences hadn’t been updated in four years, despite massive shifts in viewing behaviour, from analogue switch-offs to pandemic-related screen time spikes.
A new audience survey was conducted by Nielsen, but its statistical reliability was flagged, achieving only a 44 percent weighting efficiency, far below the 70 percent industry standard.
Then, in a move that raised even more eyebrows, Nielsen announced in September 2025 that it would withdraw from South Africa entirely within 12 months. The BRCSA has since confirmed it’s found a replacement provider, but a fully redeveloped measurement system will take 15 to 18 months to implement.
So for now, the future of public broadcasting data remains not only paid for but also uncertain.
Why this matters more than you think
Television ratings aren’t just about bragging rights for soapies or news anchors. They directly influence:
-
Advertising revenue for media houses
-
Commissioning decisions for new local shows
-
Public funding allocations for SABC
-
Research on cultural and media consumption habits
-
Media accountability and transparency
Without access to the numbers, journalists cannot fact-check, researchers cannot analyse, and viewers cannot compare.
In short, this is not just a technical issue. It’s a cultural one.
What now?
The BRCSA says it is working on a new, more accurate system with a better sampling model and digital integration. It has promised that more details will be shared “within weeks” regarding the handover from Nielsen and the interim plan.
Until then, though, South Africa is flying blind when it comes to knowing what its nation is watching, or not watching.
And in a media landscape already grappling with trust issues, declining ad spend, and shrinking audiences, that lack of transparency feels like a plot twist nobody asked for.
Also read: Great News for TymeBank Customers: Smart ID and Passport Services Are Coming to Your Neighbourhood
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: MyBroadband
Featured Image: Adobe Stock
