Off-again, on-again Dr. Phil suddenly back on SABC2 again - although it's anybody's guess whether viewers even care anymore.
The then-there, then-pulled, then-back, then gone-without-a trace Dr. Phil
is back again (for now) on SABC2 although it's anybody's guess whether
SABC2 still has any audience left bothering, or knowing to tune in again
to watch Phil McGraw dispense pop psychology in his talk show.
The SABC and SABC2's deplorable handling and scheduling disruption of Dr. Phil the past year and a half during which it actually completely lost the rights to the show
and the lack of continuous - or any - communication about it to keep
viewers informed has seen interest and the audience who knew and who
tuned in on weekdays at 12:00 completely evaporate.
Since Monday this week Dr. Phil is back in the 12:00 timeslot on SABC2 but viewers haven't returned.
After the long, yet again absence of the American weekday talk show
which is now suddenly back at a random date, nobody cares anymore.
It is as much a result of viewers no longer willing to invest in a show
that might again just suddenly disappear, as well as the erosion legacy
in viewer loyalty the SABC and SABC2 caused by constantly starting and
stopping the show without saying what's going on.
"SABC2 is pleased to announce to our viewers that
after a lengthy absence from the TV screens,
Dr. Phil returns on Monday 28
April," SABC2 said in a statement. "The show retains its longtime
slot of 12:00 from Mondays to Thursdays," the channel said.
SABC2 however didn't explain why
Dr. Phil is back now, why it erratically comes and goes, and no promises that
Dr. Phil
won't just disappear without any notice or explanation again. SABC2
didn't give any clear reason in response to a media enquiry asking why
the show is back and why it was gone "for a lengthy absence".
Dr. Phil saw another two fake starts - a fake late 2013
schedule insertion which didn't pan out, as well as again empty promises
in 2014 which then also came and went.
The SABC and SABC2's problems with
Dr. Phil stems from contractual problems which the SABC caused and remained the cause of, according to insiders.
Payment issues delayed new episodes and a new season, and the SABC also
didn't keep records of episodes played and failed to provide detailed
records to the international distributor regarding playout of episodes,
making them reluctant to continue offering the show to the SABC - at
least not until the SABC got its shoddy books in order.
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