For South African and African viewers it's abruptly goodbye to the daily CBS Evening News that DStv subscribers have been able to watch on Sky News (DStv 402) for years, with the BBC's news division, BBC News and the news division of America's CBS broadcasting network that have joined forces to share resources.
The BBC News and CBS News deal means an end to the deal Sky News and CBS News had.
One of the casualties for South African and African DStv subscribers is the loss of the daily half hour TV news bulletin CBS Evening News.
African and South African DStv subscribers can also watch the NBC Nightly News on CNBC Africa (DStv 410).
Until now, the only one of America's big three nightly TV news bulletins that couldn't be seen in South Africa was ABC's World News Tonight. Now the CBS Evening News is gone too.
The Sky News electronic programme guide (EPG) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform still shows the CBS Evening News listed at 03:30, although it's been dropped immediately, with the new BBC News and CBS News deal that has come into effect immediately.
It's not clear if the BBC might add the CBS Evening News to its BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) channel, although its unlikely since it didn't show ABC's World News Tonight while it had a news deal with ABC, the one that is being replaced by CBS.
The BBC News and CBS News deal means the two global news operations will share resources, including news gathering and editorial output in New York, London, Washington and around the world. Both would be allowed to access news videos and reports from each other.
"CBS News is completely committed to original reporting around the world – a commitment clearly shared by the BBC," says CBS News president David Rhodes in a statement. "There's no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News."
In a statement Jonathan Munro, head of news gathering at BBC News, says BBC News "will benefit from CBS News' focus on original journalism, their significant radio and digital operations and their extensive affiliate network which covers every state in the Union."
James Harding, the BBC director of news and current affairs in the statement says "there's never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what's happening in the world".
"This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences - wherever you live, whatever your point of view - news that is reliable, original and illuminating. Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television."
