PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 1626
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 9 October 2009
QUESTION PAPER NO: 20
DATE OF REPLY: 16 October 2009
Ms L D Mazibuko (DA) to ask the Minister of Communications:
1) (a)(i) What were the reasons and (ii) who was responsible for the
incorrect airing of the final episode of Survivor China on SABC3 and
(b) what steps have been taken against the individual(s);
2) whether the SABC lost any revenue in this regard; if so, what amount?
NW2032E
REPLY:
1) (a) (i) The final segment of the Survivor China on SABC 3 was
slightly longer than normal episodes due to the incorporation of the
participants in the previous episodes of Survivor China. Under normal
circumstances an episode has seven segments, but the final episode had
eight. All eight segments were not loaded on the Master Scheduler and
this resulted in the last segment of the eight not being televised on
the 31st of August 2009.
(ii) The last person in the value chain, namely the transmission
scheduler, did not do due diligence in terms of checking whether
the correct segments were loaded on the Master Scheduler.
(b) After an intense inquiry, the SABC3 transmission scheduler
responsible for the incident has been charged with gross negligence. A
disciplinary process has commenced and will be concluded on 23 October
2009.
2) The SABC lost revenue to the amount of R60 000. The last segment was
booked to the total value of R310 000 and SABC3 compensated the client
with airtime. The repeat slot delivered revenue of R250 000.