Given the boot
The SABC has served High Rollers with a cancellation letter but the soapie says it’s fighting back!
High Rollers Weekdays SABC3 (*193) 19:30
From kidnapping plots to pregnancy scams, High Rollers (2013- current) has been dealing high-stakes intrigue first as a weekly drama, then a three-day-a-week telenovela and from July this year, as a weekday soapie thanks to the SABC’s 90% local content mandate. For a series about the people working in the complex and cunning world of casinos, there was a surprise that not even production company Rous House Productions could’ve predicted – the SABC served the show with a cancellation letter on Friday 18 November. But the producers aren’t taking the matter lying down.
Luke Rous, the show’s exec producer and the head of Rous House with his brother Joshua and business partner Meren Reddy, says that they’re in shock. “Things are stressful but we have to be cautious and try engage with the SABC about reversing its decision.” In a statement, Rous House says that the only reason given for the cancellation “is due to programming strategy changes on SABC3”. Rous House say that this is confusing as they benefited from the 90% local strategy so why, if this is the mandate the SABC is following, have they been cancelled?
When asked if they could take the show to another broadcaster, Luke explained that the SABC owns the intellectual rights to High Rollers and going to another channel would be impossible. tvplus contacted SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago for comment on the matter and this was his response: “The SABC is not in a position to discuss its contractual obligations with production houses/content providers with third parties, including the media. If there is anything to be communicated, the SABC shall do so accordingly”.
High Rollers operations manager Selai Ralarala says that the team are still busy filming new episodes. “At this stage, we are working as usual. We are aiming to finish shooting season 3, which will end mid 2017.” Episodes have already been filmed to the end of January 2017 and at the time of going to print, High Rollers was still on SABC3’s December and January prelim schedules. NB! For fan comments, see p5. Dhanny and David’s partnership developed into a relationship after he took her to Denton’s poker tournament to spy on the gangster’s illegal operation, Jakes won the Queen Of Hearts poker tournament, and married Ben was living it up while Tallulah was away in Durban. Denton updates his secret database with new information on Kings Casino, its guests and staff, while Dhanny and Busi try their hand at a friendship. Tallulah’s back but she’s shocked to find the penthouse in ruins. Jakes makes it clear that he’s tired of being treated badly by Denton, and Busi finds out exactly how close Dhanny and David really are.
Jakes and Denton are working well together again… until Denton tells Jakes the final details of his campaign against the Kings and it turns out he’s after a lot more than just revenge. Ben is happy to have his wife back but AJ tells him to pay more attention to what she got up to while she was away. Busi discovers that getting her brother Luther to come work for her isn’t going to be an easy task, while Jakes comes clean to Thandi about his connection to Denton. AJ flirts with Ben and entices him into a kiss, while Jakes finds out the hard way how tough a negotiator Denton is. Meanwhile, Paul and Esme make an important decision. Jakes’s friendship with Paul and his relationship with Thandi is ruined, while Analine discovers the real reason for Linkie’s sudden need to go on holiday. Elsewhere, Busi re-lives her break up with Paul.