The SABC1 brand does it again, by being voted the second spot as the Coolest TV Channel in Mzansi according to the recently-released Sunday Times Generation Next Survey 2009. The survey polled over 5 000 urbanites in the 8- to 22-year-old market. Disney Channel took the first spot; and Trace settled for third best.

“The channel feels vindicated in its positioning as Mzansi Official Storyteller by this latest vote of confidence by South African television viewers. We are encouraged to work even harder towards bringing a more exceptional programming strategy affirming our youth,” says excited Vukile Madlala, SABC1 Publicity Manger.

Sunday Times Generation Next Survey 2009 is a second feather in the cap for the number one channel in Mzansi, as it follows hotly after the latest release of the Ipsos Markinor/Sunday Times Top Brand Awards Survey 2008, in which viewers voted the brand as the top of any television brand for a consecutive fourth year the previous year.

In another exciting development, the channel proved beyond doubt that it owns the youth space when an SABC1’s commissioned project, Lights, Camera, Action, scooped three of the seven major awards up for grabs at the recent-held 20th International CIAK Junior Festival Competition in Treviso, Italy. The ceremony ran from 27 to 31 May 2009.

SABC1’s film Coming Home is based on a story written by talented teenage girl, Amber-Jay van Rooyen. This year saw 12 countries participating in the festival with 23 films in competition. “Coming Home” won the following awards:

*Best Film;
*Best Actor / Actress (to Amber-Jay for her role in the film); and
*UNESCO Fellini medal (awarded to the film that best embodies the spirit and culture of its country).

“Coming Home” was also nominated for the Broadcasters award and Best Film as voted by Italian children only.

Jacqui Hlongwane-Papo, SABC’s Executive Producer; writer and actor, Amber-Jay van Rooyen; and her mother, Judi were in Italy to participate in this prestigious festival and to also pick up the awards. Other participating countries included Germany; Ireland; Slovenia; Macedonia; Israel; Croatia; Italy; The People’s Republic of China; and India.

“Through this achievement, SABC1 has once again realised its vision of “radiating and weaving African Stories into a universal rhythm”. I would like to thank everybody that assisted editorially in the creation of this film, especially Drama (Tanya, Kethi) and Children (Zandi, Lerato),” says Jacqui Hlongwane-Papo, SABC’s Executive Producer.

The Lights, Camera, Action strand was introduced on SABC1 from Sunday, 20 July 2008 for a consecutive 20-week period, and the new season will commence on the channel in the new fiscal year.