When the cameras started rolling on Sunday, 1 June at 7pm, on South Africa’s brand new 24-hour eNews Channel, it signalled the beginning of a brand new, innovative phase in local news.

Following two years of meticulous preparation, this was an historic moment for our country, as the evolutionary 24-hour news service is a first for South Africa.

“We are taking what is already a powerful brand on e.tv and expanding it into a 24-hour news channel,” said Bronwyn Keene-Young, e.tv’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our research into what South Africans want from a multi-channel environment proves undoubtedly that news is at the top of the list. We are particularly proud that the eNews Channel is being established by the same team that was responsible for the success of eNews over the past four years. The set-up involved a multi-disciplinary team of highly committed professionals including news, IT, engineering, archives and operations specialists, who have put in a tremendous amount of work to make this a reality.”

The studios will have the latest technologies such as big high-definition plasma touch-screens, robotic cameras, and satellite news-gathering trucks.

Redi Direko and Jeremy Maggs officially launched the channel with the kick-off of their prime-time News Night slot at 19:00. The channel is available on DStv Premium and Compact bouquets, on channel 403. The duo will anchor the weekday prime-time 19:00 to 21:00 News Night slot, and Maggs will present a new half-hour show titled Maggs on Media.

Says Maggs: “To be part of 24-hour news has to be the biggest media happening in years. Some of my career highlights include interviewing Larry King and doing a better job than he would have; visiting Cuba for a week-long outside broadcast, and getting my first newspaper by-line on The Herald newspaper in PE… this moment counts as one of them”.

Redi Direko agrees that there are numerous opportunities waiting to be explored at eNews Channel. “Working with an experienced and great journalist like Jeremy is one,” she says. “Being on a 24-hour news platform means that we will be reaching more people who are informed and have the latitude to exercise their choice. It is important to deliver a world-class product. So, that is a huge challenge.”

Click here to view the channel's programme schedule.