What Determines Your TV Cost
| Time Band | When | Cost Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Time | 18:00–22:00 | Highest | Maximum reach |
| Off-Peak | 09:00–17:00 | Medium | Daytime audiences |
| Late Night | 22:00–06:00 | Lowest | Youth, niche |
| Breakfast | 06:00–09:00 | Medium | Commuters, news |
TV Advertising in South Africa
Reach millions of viewers on SABC, e.tv, DStv, and OpenView —
from prime-time national spots to affordable local airtime.
from prime-time national spots to affordable local airtime.
Or call: +27 (0)87-012-5314
50+ Channels Prime Time Available From R25,000/mo
Why TV Advertising Still Delivers
Mass Reach
Over 12M SA households own a TV. SABC1 alone reaches 9+ million viewers daily. No other single channel matches it.
Sight + Sound + Motion
TV combines visual storytelling with voice, music, and emotion. You can demonstrate your product in ways radio or print can't match.
Prime-Time Credibility
Being on TV still carries prestige. A business seen on SABC or DStv is perceived as established and trustworthy.
Target by Channel & Time
Mzansi Magic for LSM 4–6. SuperSport for affluent sports fans. e.tv for urban mass market. Channel selection does half your targeting.
50+ Channels Across SA's Broadcasters
Free-to-Air (Max Reach)
SABC 1 — 9M+ daily viewers. Broad SA public.
SABC 2 — 5M+ viewers. Afrikaans, local content.
SABC 3 — 3M+ viewers. English, international.
e.tv — 5M+ viewers. Urban mass market, LSM 4–8.
OpenView HD — Growing free satellite. Budget-friendly.
DStv / MultiChoice
Mzansi Magic — 5M+ viewers. #1 local channel.
SuperSport — Live sport. Premium, male skew.
M-Net / 1Magic — Premium drama. LSM 8–10.
kykNET — Afrikaans entertainment.
Channel O — Music and youth, 16–24.
Community TV
Soweto TV, 1KZN, Cape Town TV — hyper-local, ultra-affordable at a fraction of mainstream rates. From R500/spot
TV Advertising Packages
Local e.tv Starter
R25,000/month
- e.tv off-peak spots (6/week)
- 30-second ads, 4-week campaign
SABC National
R120,000/month
- SABC 1 + SABC 2 prime time
- 6 spots/week each, 8-week campaign
Multi-Channel Impact
R85,000/month
- e.tv + Mzansi + SABC 3
- Prime + off-peak mix, 8 weeks
DStv Premium
Custom
- SuperSport + M-Net targeted
- Event-adjacent scheduling, 4 weeks
TV vs Other Media
| Factor | TV | Radio | Billboard | Digital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | Massive | Large | High | Targeted |
| Persuasion | Highest | Medium | Low | Medium |
| Production | R8,500+ | R3,500+ | R2,500+ | R1,000+ |
| Best for | Brand building | Frequency | 24/7 visibility | Direct response |
TV Advertising FAQs
SABC 1 prime-time: R25,000–R80,000 per 30s spot. e.tv off-peak: under R5,000. A typical 4-week campaign on 1–2 channels starts from R25,000/mo.
Not necessarily. Community TV starts from R500/spot, e.tv off-peak from R5,000. We build TV campaigns from R25,000/mo.
Basic 30-second commercial: 5–10 business days. We handle the entire production from script to broadcast-ready file, from R8,500.
SABC is free-to-air with maximum reach (9M+ on SABC 1). DStv is subscription with smaller but more defined audiences — ideal for targeting specific demographics.
Yes. SABC allows regional breaks — your ad only plays in your target province. Community TV is inherently local. DStv is national but targeted by channel selection.
Strongly recommended. TV builds awareness, radio adds frequency, billboards add local presence, digital captures response. Multi-channel delivers 2–3× the results.
Explore More Channels
Ready to Get on South African Television?
From e.tv off-peak to multi-channel SABC + DStv prime time — we’ll plan the schedule, negotiate the rates, and manage everything.
Or call: +27 (0)87-012-5314