SABC News International, the SABC's 24 hour news channel, is NOT closing down. Despite the beleaguered SABC News International that was started with millions of rand and is burning a deep monthly hole as part of the SABC's huge monthly expenditure, the channel is not going to disappear.
SABC News International has been removed from the Vivid TV platform (operated by Sentech) and can now be seen only intermittedly on SABC2 and SABC3 during a 24 hour day. However, no decision about the fate of the channel has yet been taken, the SABC tell me.
''At the moment we are looking at all the options surrounding SABC News International,'' Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesperson, tells me.
''At the moment SABC News International doesn't have it's own TV platform and can only be seen at times on SABC2 and SABC2 during the day. But at the same time parliament this week was told to keep DTT (digital terrestrial migration) in mind which is coming. When the SABC moves over to digital TV broadcasting, SABC News International will be a valuable asset and have a platform. There is no truth to rumours that SABC News International is closing down.''
