e.tv says no to PW interview
2006-01-17 21:35
Johannesburg - e.tv has decided against the airing of an interview with former state president PW Botha, said e.tv news editor Patrick Conroy on Tuesday.
"We have seen the interview and have decided not to use it," said Conroy of the interview conducted by former SABC journalist Cliff Saunders.
The interview apparently was to have been flighted by the SABC last Thursday to coincide with Botha's 90th birthday.
According to media reports, the public broadcaster "pulled the plug" on the interview claiming that Thuthuka Productions shot the interview outside the SABC's guidelines and editorial control.
Thuthuka Productions then decided to approach e.tv and M-Net to find out whether the stations would be interested in the interview.
Conroy said there was no sinister reason behind e.tv's refusal to air the interview.
"We would have wanted to do the interview ourselves. We would have done it differently," he added.
By Tuesday evening, M-Net had not responded as to whether the station would air the interview or not.
- SAPA