SABC cancels new productions
2009-05-25 10:00
Johannesburg - The SABC reportedly has informed producers via SMS not to make new programmes for the time being.
The public broadcaster's financial crisis has often been in the news lately. Rumour has it that the SABC owes about R40m to about 50 producers.
"It's just strange that they did it via SMS, since not all producers will receive the SMSes because not everyone is on the SMS list," said Desiree Markgraaff, head of the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO).
According to Markgraaff, the SABC asked producers to submit suggestions for new programmes - especially dramas - a few months ago.
Markgraaff says the presentation process for producers was still under way when the SMS was sent. "A lot of work goes into the presentation process. This means many producers have wasted their time and money."
Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the SABC, said he did not know about the SMSes. He said the SABC and the television industry emergency coalition (TVIEC), of which the IPO is a member, will meet to discuss their grievances in June.
Last week the coalition asked producers and actors to show up en masse at the SABC offices in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, due to the R40m that the broadcaster owes to about 50 producers.