Johannesburg, 11 May 2023 – BET Africa’s highly acclaimed television series Redemption came to an end on 09 May 2023, after a hugely successful season. With well over 4,2 million viewers and an average of 74 000 audiences daily, the show has captivated viewers across the country and has made a significant impact in both the entertainment industry and the South African economy, by generating jobs, promoting local content, and creating a platform for compelling storytelling.

Set in a mega church, the story revolves around the close-knit and highly respected Zikode family which is at war with itself and is filled with many dark secrets and lies. Dark truths come to light and the family are faced with many daring decisions as they scramble to salvage the family’s legacy, highlighting the show’s themes of greed, corruption, good, and evil.

According to TAMS, 2023, local soapies, dramas and telenovelas account for as much as 55% of all viewing on South African television and the show has continued to dominate BET ratings in 2023.

“Redemption’s impact goes beyond just viewership numbers. The show created job opportunities for local and young talent and an estimated team of over 150 cast and crew members, including support staff employed during the first season. This is a tremendous boost to our entertainment industry and as Paramount we are proud to continue to contribute to the growth of the South African creative economy.” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount Africa and Lead, BET International.

Since its premiere, the show has become a fan favourite with its gripping storylines, strong performances, and star-studded cast. The telenovela, produced by local production companies Seriti Films and Burnt Onion Productions, is BET’s biggest local original production to date.

“The show was a collaboration right from the beginning, not just between Burnt Onion Productions and Seriti Films, but also with BET who have supported our creative intentions to deliver a fresh, dynamic telenovela with international production quality.  We look forward to telling more uniquely South African stories.” said Leanne Kumalo, Managing Director, and Executive Producer.

“Redemption has been a truly great production to have collaborated on, from our amazing crew to the incredible on-screen talent. We are proud of the work we produced with the support from all our partners.” Rethabile Ramaphakela, Creative Director of Burnt Onion.

So far, Redemption has established itself as the number 1 television show on BET Africa. And, despite frequent power outages in South Africa, which affect ratings negatively, the show improved slot performance by 1400% among viewers aged 20-37 and by 1169% among viewers aged 15 plus.

“We are incredibly proud of the impact that Redemption has had on the entertainment industry. Paramount Africa’s mission to provide platforms for authentic African storytelling, industry growth, inclusivity, identity ownership, and inspire authenticity by leveraging the power of content. The partnership between two leading local production houses, has created a storyline that showcases the richness and diversity of South African storytelling.” Twala added.

BET is now available on the DSTV Access Package, making the show more accessible to a broader spectrum of viewers. There are plans for the show to broadcast on e.tv, potentially reaching its 16 million channel viewers.

Paramount Africa is a television and multi-media broadcast organisation based in South Africa and Nigeria, reaching audiences of over 100 million viewers across 52 territories of the African continent through its portfolio of 10 television channels, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., NickToons and VH1 Classic.

In light of Redemption’s phenomenal success, Paramount Africa would like to put out a call for collaboration with various private and public sector partners to invest in the creative industry and help create more job opportunities, together.

Brands and businesses will have the opportunity to work with a trusted and reputable brand that is dedicated to providing high-quality and local content, generating further opportunities for economic growth amongst the youth through innovation and creativity.