South Africa's Most Watched Tv Shows In 2024

TechCentral analysed BRC data for the most-watched shows between January and November 2024 to spot trends in viewer preferences - the data is visually summarised in the chart below. The data looks at television audience numbers and not any streaming audience data.

Despite changes in technology driving shifts in audience behaviour towards streaming, linear television remains popular among South African audiences and primetime viewership - from 5.30pm to 10pm on weekdays - continues to draw significant audiences and advertising.

"TV, given its reach and popularity, retains its position as a strong advertising platform in South Africa, and spend continues to be highest between 6pm and 9pm," said a separate report by the National Association of Broadcasters NAB.

SABC 1 soapie Uzalo was consistently the most watched TV show in South Africa in 2024, coming first in every month between January and November. Produced by Stained Glass TV, Uzalo airs weekdays at 8.30pm. The show's most-viewed episode for 2024 aired on 27 March when 5.7-million South Africans tuned in. No other show across all TV channels managed to breach the five million viewers milestone, although e.tv's House of Zwide proved to be a strong competitor.

Unlike SABC 1 and e.tv, whose most-watched shows were soapies, SABC 2. Soapie Muvhango shared the spotlight with a variety of sports broadcasts throughout the year, showing that South African audiences really love sport. The Confederation of African Football CAF qualifiers between South Africa and Congo-Brazzaville, which aired on 11 October, drew 1.8 million viewers, the most for SABC 2 in 2024.