South Africa’s S3 launches BBC Primetime

BBC Studios and South African public broadcaster SABC have joined forces to launch BBC Primetime, a programming strand to be screened on millennial-skewing SA channel S3 from May. 

The content block will feature dramas, factual entertainment series and documentaries from BBC Studios’ catalogue, such as detective drama Luther and motoring show Top Gear, and will be available Monday to Friday from 21.00 to 23.00 on S3 and SABC+. 

Other titles in the BBC Primetime mix include medical drama Critical, romantic comedy Cheaters and documentary series Louis Theroux: Forbidden America. 

BBC Studios said BBC Primetime will reach 13 million homes in South Africa, marking the company’s widest reaching BBC-branded branded service in EMEA. 

“BBC Primetime will be hand-picked for S3 audiences, packed with a selection of incredible programming from our award-winning catalogue. From intense thrillers, crime dramas and inspiring documentaries, this marks our first block for free-to-air audiences in South Africa, giving 13 million homes access to BBC Studios’ shows. I can’t wait for the 2024 launch,” said Pierre Cloete, commercial director at BBC Studios in Africa. 

The partnership “was born out of the need for us to fulfil our commitment in delivering high-quality international content to our viewers,” said Sane Zondi, programming manager at SABC. 

“We are excited to have access to a vast catalogue from the BBC, and the unlimited world-class entertainment our viewers will be able to enjoy through BBC Primetime on S3. There is a range of new content which we are keen for our audiences watch. We look forward to seeing some of the sentiments and reactions across our social media platforms.”