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Johannesburg – The SABC has reassured viewers that Generations will continue.
On Monday 16 striking Generations cast members, made up mainly of principal actors, were fired after failing to return to work.
The move is completely unprecedented in the 38 year history of South African television. SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a press statement that Generations remains property of the SABC and that they will make sure it continues.
Kganyago said: “Generations will continue and people don’t need to worry about it.”Generations is the biggest money earner for the public broadcaster, making even the smallest tampering with the show a dicey and risky move. It could impact negatively on the show's popularity and viewership figures.
Advertisers cough up an astronomical R220 000 per 30 second ad break in Generations to get their product or service in front of the massive average audience of 7.5m viewers who tune in on weeknights at 20:00 on SABC1 to watch.
Earlier Channel24 reported that the SABC and MMSV Productions "have today terminated the contracts of the striking actors on the SABC1 soap drama, Generations".
"The termination follows calls by both parties for the actors to return for recordings, following the start of their illegal strike," the SABC said.
"The principal cast of Generations, who have been withholding their services, have each received letters of dismissal, with immediate effect," the Generations Actors Guild said.
The Generations actors will now look at their legal options as a result of their wholesale firing.
