I can exclusively reveal that the eNews Channel (DStv 403) which will change its name within weeks to the ENCA or ENC for short, is moving closer to its aspirations to become a truly global South African 24 news channel and has just started broadcasting in the United Kingdom on the Sky pay TV platform.
In June I broke the news that the eNews Channel has been in dealings with the British broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, seeking a license to broadcast within the United Kingdom as e.Sat and e.tv's eNews is seeking to expand its local South African and pan African news service into Britain.
eNews confirmed that its been seeking distribution in the United Kingdom and has been broadcasting on TAC for a few months.
As the SABC is gearing up to take news pan African when it launches its new SABC news channel soon, the eNews Channel (DStv 403) is one step ahead and has now definitely jumped to another continent. The eNews Channel will rebrand within weeks with a new name - the ENCA or ENC - as well as a new logo and new on-air imaging.
Sources in Britain who are watching the eNews Channel there now, are telling TV with Thinus that the eNews Channel is now broadcasting in the United Kingdom at 28E on what was briefly used for the Africa Channel+1.
Sources immediately suspected that when the Africa Channel+1 appeared on the Sky service that it was a placeholder, "given that the address of the eNews license holder here is the same as that of the African Channel." "The quality is good on the channel," says a source. "It's not on the Sky EPG yet, as its probably still a test and could launch officially in the UK when the rebrand of the eNews Channel comes into effect next month."
