I can break the news that the satirical puppet show of Thierry Cassuto ZA News that's been struggling to find a new TV slot after its last broadcast on DStv's business channel Summit, will be moving to the Top One (TopTV 150) channel in a landmark deal for new local content for TopTV's premium entertainment channel.
ZA News that first languished after the SABC ordered a pilot but failed to pick up the show, then moved online with video broadcasts, then to Summit and made a deal with the Kulula airline, is now returning to television on Top One.
I can reveal that the new ZA News, produced by the Cape Town-based production company Both Worlds, will start on Top One on Sunday, 11 September in the primetime slot at 21:00 (with repeats on Tuesdays at 20:30 and 22:30). Weekly episodes will continue to poke fun in a scathing way at local news, politicians and leaders.
''We are excited to have the programme on our platform as it is local, relevant, innovative and avobe all else, entertaining,'' says Gugu Sibeko, the vice president for local content at TopTV.
