All of the Soul City series are developed through a formative research process. This involves consulting both audiences and experts. All materials are tested with audiences to ensure that the materials are effective.

Each Soul City series is made up of:

• A prime time television series – 13 one hour episodes (Series 1-3 were half hours)
• A daily radio drama – 45 fifteen minute episodes
• Booklets – 3 full colour booklets per series
• A advertising/publicity campaign which keeps people talking and thinking about Soul City
• An advocacy campaign around one of the major topics

The television series is broadcast on South Africa's television station (SABC 1). It has consistently achieved top audience ratings and has won numerous prestigious awards for excellence in television drama.

The radio series is broadcast on all nine SABC regional radio stations (in nine of South Africa's official languages). It is also broadcast on many community radio stations.

The Booklets are serialised in newspapers throughout South Africa in synergy with the electronic media. The booklets are inserted into the newspapers at the end of the serialisation. They are also distributed through clinics and other government distribution channels, non-governmental and community based organisations, business and educational facilities. At least 3 million booklets are distributed per series.

HIV/AIDS, Health

The television and radio series are used as vehicles to shift social norms and impact on knowledge, attitude and practices. The booklets deal with the series topics in greater detail and can be kept by readers for future reference.

Issues dealt with in each television series were:

• Series 1 – broadcast in 1994 - Mother & child health, HIV/AIDS
• Series 2 – broadcast in 1996 - HIV/AIDS, housing & land, TB & smoking
• Series 3 – broadcast in 1997 - HIV/AIDS, household energy, violence, alcohol misuse
• Series 4 – broadcast in 1999 - HIV/AIDS, personal finance, hypertension, violence against women
• Series 5 – broadcast in 2001 - HIV/AIDS, Small Business Development, rape, disability
• Series 6 – broadcast in 2003 – HIV/AIDS, depression, asthma, adult education + literacy

Through its multi-media and advocacy strategies the series aim to create an enabling environment empowering audiences to make healthy choices, both as individuals and as communities.

The project organisers say: "Through drama and entertainment Soul City reaches more than 16 million South Africans." It has also been broadcast in many parts of Africa as well as Latin America, the Caribbean and South East Asia.