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The reorganization of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in 1997 was a crucial step in transforming the corporation to better serve a democratic South Africa. This restructuring was influenced by broader political changes that occurred after apartheid was abolished and a democratic government was established. The reform was formalized by the Broadcasting Act of 1999, which was passed to foster a more autonomous and diversified broadcasting environment. Although this legislation went into effect two years later, the reorganization process that began in 1997 paved the way for it. The formation of the IBA (later incorporated into the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, ICASA) was critical in regulating the broadcasting sector and guaranteeing the SABC's compliance with new legislation. A new board of directors was created to provide greater independence from government control. This board was entrusted with overseeing the transition process and ensuring that SABC's operations adhered to democratic values. The SABC's mandate highlighted its position as a public broadcaster serving all South Africans, promoting national unity, and reflecting the country's diversity.

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In 1939-1945 The war effort required major national resources, resulting in restricted financing and materials for the SABC. Broadcast equipment and infrastructure growth were limited. Wartime propaganda and censorship had a profound impact on programming. The SABC had to make its broadcasts consistent with government policy and war operations. Wartime import and technology limitations made it difficult to maintain and upgrade broadcasting equipment. The war effort engaged a large number of qualified workers and potential employees, resulting in personnel shortages and operational issues. From 1945-1947 The early postwar years necessitated the reconstruction and expansion of broadcasting infrastructure that had been ignored or destroyed during the war. The economic consequences of the war resulted in restricted government support for the SABC. Budget limits have to be balanced against public demand for enhanced and expanded broadcasting services. The transition from wartime propaganda to normal television presented issues in content generation and programming tactics. There was a need to shift attention to more diversified and peaceful material. Keeping up with rapid improvements in broadcasting technology and incorporating them into existing systems was difficult, particularly given budgetary and technical restrictions. The SABC was heavily influenced by the government, making it difficult to balance political influences with journalistic ethics. South Africa's complicated socioeconomic and racial dynamics shaped broadcasting policy and programming, forcing the SABC to satisfy various audience requirements in a divided nation.

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After World War I the security restrictions where lifted allowing amateur broadcast to emerge. This include:

John Samuel Streeter who weekly broadcasted gramophone concerts. First from Sea Point and then moved to Observatory.

Reginald Hopkins broadcasted pianola music as well as messages from his home in Wynberg.

Finally Arthur Sydney Innes would broadcast programmes of gramophone recordings from his own radio station which was known 2OB.

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Between 1923 and 1927, the South African Railways launched the country's first radio stations, while private ventures such as the African Broadcasting Company and Cape Town Radio pioneered the early days of broadcast media in South Africa. Listener licence fees and advertising supported these stations. Due to the growing popularity of radio, private stations were merged into a public organisation in 1927 with the establishment of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) by an Act of Parliament. As a public service broadcaster, the SABC was tasked with promoting South African culture and strengthening national cohesion by airing a variety of shows in both Afrikaans and English. The SABC quickly became the dominant force in South African broadcasting, reaching a wide audience across the country. Over the years, the SABC has evolved to include television and digital platforms, continuing its mission of serving the diverse population of South Africa.

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1936: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was established as a state-owned broadcaster, modeled after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), to provide radio services in South Africa. This move aimed to offer a unified broadcasting service to a diverse and fragmented society, fostering a sense of national identity and unity. The establishment of the SABC marked a significant development in South African media, aiming to replicate the success and structure of the BBC, which was renowned for its impartial and comprehensive broadcasting. The SABC's mandate included the promotion of public service broadcasting, which entailed producing and airing educational, informative, and entertainment content accessible to the entire population. As Krüger (2012) notes, the formation of the SABC laid the groundwork for the expansion of media in South Africa, ultimately leading to the development of television services and a more complex broadcasting landscape in the decades to follow.

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1938: Afrikaans broadcasting advanced as a result of the Great Trek reenactment. However, the audience's sudden and strong demand for coverage of an event brought to light numerous shortcomings in a national service. The division of the service was the solution. The medium-wave service continued to carry English programming under the somewhat superior sounding moniker of the A Programme (today's SAfm), while the short-wave service continued to carry only Afrikaans programming, becoming known as the B Programme (what is now known as radiosondergrense, or Radio Without Borders).

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In 1948, With the introduction of news keeping people informed and up to date with the latest stories and trends broadcasting services such printed media (newspapers) were the main source of providing the public with information. Radio broadcasting followed by Station JB was the only radio station in South Africa that was allowed to broadcast news that was already printed by the press. The SABC then approached the South African press association closed association set up by the mainstream newspapers, for four news bulletins a day. The challenges faced by the SABC during this time displayed their lack of power over the news content or the blueprint of news bulletins until the SABC established an internal news department in July 1950, two weeks after the first SABC-generated news bulletin was conducted the department expanded and the news bulletin offers increased.

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In 1949, in Orlando, which became part of Soweto, many black working-class people became subscribers of the SABC radio services. They then hired and installed loudspeakers into their homes due to the inclusion of three major languages, isiZulu, isiXhosa and seSotho. This carried over into surrounding townships and by 1956, the number of subscribers increased to fourteen thousand. The SABC then faced challenges after subscribers were forcefully removed and placed into more remote townships, and the government did not allow for the services to be broadcast to these areas, despite enthusiasm from the SABC.

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the IBA whose role was to generate policy regarding broadcasting and issue broadcasting licenses published the Triple Enquiry Report. the report concerned itself with three basic broadcasting issues, the protection and viability which meant that the SABCs lucrative reginal radio stations to be sold off for much needed capital. the next issue was to establish criteria regarding cross-media ownership, this was to help create diversity and so that no one person could own broadcasting companies or television station, two FM and two medium-wave radio stations. newspapers could not have an interest in both a radio station and a television station at the same time, this helps prevent the monopoly. last the third issue was establishing the percentage of local content and that local content should form at least half of the content by the year 2000 unfortanetly this target was not reached.

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1996: The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act was implemented, leading to the establishment of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). This act aimed to ensure that the SABC operated independently of the government and catered to the diverse needs of the South African populace.

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1996-98: Financial crisis -Sadiyah Taliep (ST10036669)

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1996-98: Financial crisis -Sadiyah Taliep (ST10036669)

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1996-98: The SABC faced yet another financial crisis, in spite of a much-anticipated restructuring, which was mostly worsening during the previous ten years by the trend of non-payment of television license payments. In 1997, the percentage of viewers engaging in pirate content reached a peak of 57%, leading to an annual revenue loss of around R900 million (South African Broadcasting Corporation 1999:9). The Astrasat project—an analogue free-to-air satellite service that started running in July 1996—was ultimately shelved as a disastrous failure in February 1998, incurring an R143 million write-off.

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The SABC formed an agreement with Senetech to have a digital service, initiating the airing of its channels on DStv. The involved its radio stations, Bop TV and three networks.

Later, SABC reorganised these three television channels due to the introduction of e.tv. This was because of e.tv’s pledge to operate as a "full-spectrum" channel, in contrast to M-Net's and the SABC's specialised programs.

The channels were organised as the following. SABC 1 relaunched as a younger audience targeted entertainment channel. SABC 2 would bring educational and social issues from throughout Africa. SABC 3 focused on a combination of news, current affairs, and entertainment. Two satellite stations, SABC Africa and Best of Africa were also introduced.

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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) started a significant reorganisation initiative in 2004 with the goal of changing from a state-run broadcaster to a public service organisation. This change was part of a larger effort to better reflect the various language and cultural terrains of South Africa, strengthen editorial freedom, and improve governance. With these modifications, the SABC aimed to reorient its mission from promoting government propaganda to serving the public interest and offering unbiased, inclusive programming. The reorganisation also aimed to increase transparency and accountability within the organisation, ensuring that the SABC operated in a more democratic and representative manner. These changes were crucial in fostering a more inclusive media landscape that catered to the diverse needs and perspectives of South Africa's population.

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As of 2022, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has noticed a decrease in viewership. This is due to various factors regarding South Africa and the world as a whole. The increase of loadshedding at the time causes many people to simply not watch SABC either due to lost interest or due to the inability to watch television as a whole. Secondly, due to the large increase of streaming services and illegal streaming platforms, many people would rather not pay for DSTV or a TV License but would rather stream online.

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From 2013 to 2017, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) faced significant controversies centered around Hlaudi Motsoeneng's tenure as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Motsoeneng became acting COO in 2011, and his appointment was made permanent in 2013, despite controversies regarding his qualifications and the legitimacy of his appointment. He was found to have lied about his academic qualifications, which was confirmed in the Public Protector's 2014 report that also highlighted salary irregularities and recommended disciplinary action. His tenure was marked by financial mismanagement, including inflated salaries for executives and unapproved, wasteful expenditures, contributing to the SABC's financial instability. Motsoeneng also faced criticism for editorial interference and censorship, notably banning the broadcast of violent protest footage in 2016, which created a climate of fear among journalists. Allegations of political interference included promoting the ruling ANC and creating patronage networks within the SABC. The Western Cape High Court ruled his appointment unlawful in 2016, but he was controversially reappointed to a different executive position, leading to further public outcry and legal challenges. A parliamentary committee investigated the crisis, criticized Motsoeneng's leadership, and recommended the removal of the entire SABC board and urgent reforms. Motsoeneng was finally dismissed in June 2017 following a disciplinary hearing, leading to several board resignations and a restructuring of the SABC's governance framework. New leadership was appointed to restore credibility, address financial challenges, and ensure editorial independence, with efforts made to implement policy changes to prevent future issues, including stricter procurement processes and greater transparency. This period highlighted the need for increased transparency, accountability, and reform within South Africa’s public broadcaster.

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1955:

Community Radio Stations: The SABC launched community radio stations to serve specific linguistic and cultural communities. These stations aimed to promote the apartheid policy of "separate development" by providing tailored content to different racial groups.

Propaganda and Censorship: The government used the SABC to broadcast propaganda supporting apartheid policies. This included censoring content that criticized the government or provided a platform for opposition voices.

1956:

Broadcasting Act Amendment: Amendments to the Broadcasting Act further consolidated government control over the SABC. These changes ensured that the SABC's programming aligned with the National Party's policies and objectives.

Expansion of Afrikaans Programming: Afrikaans-language programming increased significantly, reflecting the government's emphasis on promoting Afrikaner culture and language.

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By 1994, South Africa was coming out of decades of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination under the apartheid regime. Years of local and international pressure had resulted in the gradual dismantling of the apartheid rule and the emergence of a democratic administration.
SABC's role: Having once been a state broadcaster that backed the apartheid regime, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was then set to be a major player in the first free and fair elections. Its coverage of the elections presented a historic chance to assist a South Africa that had just gained democracy, as well as a critical test of its newly discovered objectivity. In order to cover the elections from a variety of perspectives, the company established a complete broadcast operation that included live updates, interviews, and analysis.
From the opening of polling places to the vote tallying, SABC covered the entire voting process live, and as soon as the results were formally verified, the SABC was instrumental in making the announcement. The 1994 election coverage experience brought to light the SABC's need for additional reforms. More extensive adjustments to its internal procedures, governance frameworks, and editorial rules were necessary for the broadcaster's transformation into a democratic one.
The SABC's place in South Africa's democratic processes was established by the elections of 1994. It underlined the value of an independent and dependable public broadcaster in a democracy. This time frame was the start of a protracted attempt to restructure and realign the SABC with its mission as a public service broadcaster.

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The first community television license was granted to Soweto Community Television, which began broadcasting on Sunday, July 1 2007, for a one-year period. Community services can operate under either a long-term license valid for four years or a short-term license lasting one month. Two types of communities are defined: geographic communities and communities of interest. Its role was to serve a particular community and encourage community members to participate in the selection and provision of broadcast programmes.

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The SABC was granted a license to begin two new regional television channels focusing on marginalised indigenous languages. This allowed for languages such as tshiVenda, xiTsonga, afrikaans, siSwati and isiNdebele to get more airtime. This allowed for SABC to reach out to a broader audience and more province's in Africa. SABC is no longer just an English and Afrikaans channels.

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Efforts to restructure SABC into a more independent and representative public service broadcaster began in the 1990s and continued in the 2000s. The Broadcasting Amendment Act of 2002 sought to improve the SABC's accountability and governance significantly. It made it easier to distinguish between the SABC's commercial and public services, ensuring that the public service obligations came first.

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To ensure maximum viewer engagement the SABC has developed their own streaming service known as SABC+ (launched 2021). As modern viewers gravitate to streaming services, the SABC have ensured they remain "with the times" and can continue being a reliable, easily accessible option for South African viewers. With heavy financial woes still ever apparent for the SABC, this new product offered highlights how the company still aim to be a figurehead of media within South Africa. This can be seen through their viewing figures (4,6 million unique views between the 1st-20th of June 2024). This restructure of viewing options has improved the organization and allows for future growth, as well as sustainability.

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At the end of March in 1999, SABC was able to turn around its financial deficit and was able to make a budget surplus of R122 million. However local content dropped while the use of English was increased to attract a more affluent audience in order to maximise advertising revenue. SABC still had to deal with their problem of credibility, particularly as a unbias news outlet.

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1946: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) started experiencing financial difficulties, however SABC came up with two potential solutions to solve their financial issues. Their first method was to exclude SABC from paying income tax and their second method to reduce their expenses was to lower their Post Office share of their licenses fee to 1%,

but this made a small difference to their financial issues. In order to solve their issues SABC began commericalising and selling advertising time on air. The revenue from this action supported the station. In 1948 The Schoch Commision suggested that commercial broadcasting be established independently from SABC. This could have resulted in the end of SABC because of financial struggles. However due to a Nationalist Government with a pro-afrikaaner and a strong pro-racial segregation, commercial advertising became a part of SABC.

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The Meyer Commission looked into the possible advantages of bringing television to South Africa in 1971. The group came to the conclusion that television would promote self-development and national pride despite early opposition from the Nationalist Government, which opposed it on moral and ethical grounds. When the SABC first stated offering television, it had content in both Afrikaans and English. However, there was a lack of programming accesible because of worldwide boycotts against Apartheid. Advertising and additional programming, including as the Subscription service M-net, which was developed in response to major Afrikaans, and English newspaper organisations' concerns about the SABC's commercialisation, were gradually incorporated.

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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) faced several difficulties, especially in light of apartheid. The apartheid regime closely monitored the SABC and utilized it as a propaganda tool. This damaged the broadcaster's credibility and hindered its capacity to cover social and political topics with objectivity. The SABC, which had only begun broadcasting television in 1976, was therefore in the process of growing its television services. Political factors and resistance from the apartheid regime, especially worries about the medium's possible influence on public opinion, were the cause of the delay. This required a great deal of financial and administrative work, including building new facilities and staff training. In the case of the Soweto Uprising on June 16, 1976, the broadcaster originally downplayed the extent and intensity of the demonstrations, highlighting its status as an organization under government control. The first television transmission by the SABC happened roughly 20 years after broadcasting began in most developed countries.

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The South African government imposed strict censorship during apartheid in order to manage the media and dampen resistance. The SABC attempted to prevent "undesirable" content by removing politically and socially disruptive music from broadcasts, but the Directorate of Publications, which was founded in 1974, was only able to outlaw a small number of musical compositions. Additionally, the government implemented racial segregation restrictions on radio and television shows to guarantee that various racial groups were exposed to specifically designed content that supported apartheid ideology. Due to the political tone of their work, many artists experienced persecution or expulsion, as well as harsh constraints on their ability to perform and write. Despite their best efforts, independent radio stations like as Capital Radio and Radio 702 were still limited by ownership and regulatory constraints when it came to providing alternative material. Not only did local music face censorship, but the works of foreign musicians, such as Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall" and The Specials' "Free Nelson Mandela", were also prohibited if they were seen to be politically controversial. Apartheid's media control had a wide-ranging effect, as seen by the consequences of jail time, assault, or forced exile for musicians who disobeyed these regulations.

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Before the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was open to the public, they had limited viewership, due to the censorship of the non-white racial groups, some people did not have access to SABC because they could not own TVs or there were limited channels available.

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During the ten-year span between 1981 and 1991, there were two significant investigations into South African media, each presenting different perspectives. The Steyn Commission of 1981 conducted a comprehensive investigation into all media forms. Its report was heavily criticised for aligning with government ideology. The Steyn Commission made four key recommendations about broadcasting:

The government should loosen its control over the SABC to ensure the broadcaster's autonomy and impartiality.

The SABC board should include all interest groups, not just white members, and be accountable to the head of state rather than a specific minister.

The Department of National Education should collaborate closely with the SABC.

Independent radio stations should be permitted within South Africa.

However, the government did not accept these broadcasting recommendations.

In 1991, the Viljoen Commission explored the future of broadcasting in South Africa. It made several major recommendations:

Establish an independent broadcasting authority to oversee broadcasting.

Commercial broadcasting should have fewer restrictions than public broadcasting.

There should be limits on the ownership of radio and television stations.

The SABC should be transformed into a public service broadcaster.

Deregulation of broadcasting should start with introducing community radio services.

The Viljoen Commission also faced criticism, with some labelling it as unrepresentative of the wider South African community from its inception.

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1994 Post Apartheid South Africa Matthew Lawson ST10399518

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1994 Post Apartheid South Africa Matthew Lawson ST10399518

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In 1994, following the end of apartheid, the SABC underwent a dramatic transformation to align with the new democratic era. The broadcaster's content was overhauled to reflect South Africa's diverse and multicultural society, moving away from the state-controlled, racially biased programming of the apartheid era. This included increased representation of multiple languages and cultural perspectives. The SABC also saw significant changes in governance, with a push for greater independence and accountability, though these efforts were met with varying degrees of success. The transition marked a pivotal shift towards a more inclusive and representative media landscape in South Africa.