IT’S been almost two years since M-Net introduced the telenovela, Legacy, to Mzansi.
Legacy is set against the backdrop of a wealthy family at war with itself.
But the channel has since decided to cancel the show after two seasons, and the future of the cast and crew has been left in limbo.
Shooting of the second season will conclude early next year, and it will air until September.
According to M-Net, they’re cancelling the show as they have learnt that their audience prefers limited series instead of long-running telenovelas.
“Our viewership surveys guide us to adapt our content to the evolving needs of our customers. While Legacy is a popular show, our M-Net 101 customers have indicated they now want more limited series rather than long-running telenovelas.
The success of our local strategy depends on how well we tune into what our customers would like to see on their screens,” said Nomsa Philiso, executive head: programming at MultiChoice Group.
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Although those are their reasons, according to the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa, Legacy did not make it to the most watched TV shows on DStv in the last six months.
Speaking to Daily Sun, veteran actress Clementine Mosimane, who plays Kedibone on the show, said she’s sad it will come to an end so soon as she believes it was doing well.
“The show wouldn’t have scored a second season if it was not doing well. News that it will end after season two broke my heart. Can you imagine the number of people losing jobs?
These are breadwinners. It’s also so unjust for people who love the show and watch religiously.”
Daily Sun reached out to other actors on the show, but they refused to comment, saying they were instructed to direct media queries to Tshedza Pictures and M-Net.
In a statement, show creators Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon said they were thankful to the channel for its incredible support and encouragement in bringing Legacy to life.
“All our writers, crew members and actors have poured their hearts and souls into this project.
We applaud MultiChoice Group for continuing to support local content and look forward to working on other exciting projects in future,” they said.
