e.tv plans Africa news channel
2009-10-07 08:20
Thinus Ferreira
Cape Town - e.tv has plans for a new continental news service for Africa, which will be named eNews Africa.
The broadcaster is understood to be working on plans for its second television news channel, which will include specific news agencies from across the continent.
e.tv's plans for eNews Africa follow the success of the eNews Channel (channel 403 on DStv). Since its launch in June 2008, it has become the most popular news channel among viewers on the DStv platform.
The eNews Africa channel will operate as a sister channel to the eNews Channel, with the same approach to news, but with slightly different programme construction, scheduling and presentation, in order to adjust to an African audience.
News about Africa
"The purpose is to provide Africa with as much news about Africa as possible," said Patrick Conroy, e.tv's new editor-in-chief.
"This means content which is more South-Africa centred, will have to be modified for those audiences."
Since the beginning of October, the eNews Channel has been broadcasting in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Malawi.
The broadcaster has also launched a commercial TV station in Ghana, and will soon start broadcasting in this West-African country.
While the SABC's interim board considers closing the SABC News International news channel, which can only be seen on the limited Vivid platform, e.tv is of the opinion that there are great opportunities for growth in Africa's news industry.
"There's a need, both editorially and commercially, for a good quality pan-African news service," said Conroy.
- Die Burger