By Lindsay de Freitas
24-hour news channels are a relatively new phenomenon in South Africa. The three local news channels in South Africa at present are eNCA, SABC News and most recently ANN7, with the first channel, eNCA, having started in June 2008.
eNCAeNCA started out as the e.tv News Channel. When the channel later branched out into Africa in 2012 the name was changed to eNews Channel Africa (eNCA). According to the eNCA
website the channel airs: “Live reports, breaking news, sport, weather, entertainment, financial and business updates all form part of its offering, along with a host of topical current affairs shows.” Although eNCA is relatively new to the airways, its parent corporation e.tv (the first free-to-air television station in South Africa) has had a broadcasting licence since 1998.
e.tv, along with eNCA, has in the past been criticised for its left-wing approach to news broadcast. This falls in stark contrast to South Africa’s other two news channels: SABC News and ANN7, both of whom have strong ties to the reigning political party. The somewhat controversial approach to social and political issues in South Africa has however made for a stellar news channel which gives South Africans an objective broadcasting experience.
SABC NewsThe second 24-hour news channel in South Africa is SABC News. The news channel, which first aired on Thursday, 1 August, is part of the South African Broadcasting Company. Speaking at the launch of the news channel, SABC CEO, Lulama Mokhob,
said: “[T]he public broadcaster will use its new 24-hour channel to tell South Africa’s true story.” The channel has, however, been met with some criticism after what many thought to be a rough start. According to writer, Pearl Boshomane on
Times LIVE, “The excuse that ‘they're just starting out’ (as some people tweeted) would be fine if ‘they’ were not the SABC. The SABC has been broadcasting TV for years. It is meant to be the BBC of South Africa.”
ANN7The newest of South Africa’s news channels is the Gupta family owned, ANN7, which launched in late August. According to the website,
Southafrica.info: “ANN7, which is funded by the Infinity Media consortium, was launched by The New Age Media in Sandton. The new station, boasting a strong complement of 150 journalists, is headquartered at Midrand, Johannesburg.”
The launch of ANN7 has been plagued by technical difficulties, incompetent news anchors and a general low standard of broadcasting. Further to this, reports of bias towards the ANC have been rife as the Gupta family who own New Age Media, are said to have strong ties to President Jacob Zuma.
ANN7 employees were apparently told to show favour to the President in news broadcasts. According to former senior employee at ANN7,
Rajesh Sundaram: “My conscience couldn’t take it anymore and I knew I had to resign. I have been a journalist for 20 years and I have never seen editorial interference like this.”
Judging from the above, it appears as though 24-hour news channels in South Africa still have a way to go. One can only hope that with better guidance and a focus on ethical, responsible journalism local news channels can improve and provide viewers with quality news coverage.
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