SABC has a plan to turn R1-billion annual profit

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) expects to report a nearly R1-billion profit in 2026/27, the National Treasury revealed in its Budget Review document. The public broadcaster has been loss-making since the 2014/15 financial year, and in its latest annual report, it recorded a loss before interest and tax of R192 million. The Budget Review document includes a forecasted statement of financial performance, in which it estimates that the SABC will record a loss after interest and tax of R27.

5 million in 2025/26. This will be followed by a R907 million profit after interest and tax in the 2026/27 financial year and R784 million in 2027/28. At the same time, it expects to collect R6.



95 billion in revenue in 2025/26 and R7.75 billion in both 2026/27 and 2027/28. "The corporation will focus on addressing its financial stability over the medium term.

It has developed a strategy that details clear actions on new commercial capabilities to deepen its digital transformation to take advantage of new platforms and emerging technologies," Treasury said. "This will be done through increased commercialisation of the recently revamped over-the-top platform known as SABC+, for which the broadcaster aims to have 1 million registered users in 2027/28." The public broadcaster will also increase commercialisation of its social media platforms, including TikTok and WhatsApp, to target a growing online audience.

The free-to-use SABC+ streaming platform currently has an estimated 500,000 registered users, which the public broadcaster hopes to increase to 750,000 in 2025/26 and reach one million by 2026/27. Curiously, the Budget Review..

. Myles Illidge.