by Thinus Ferreira
Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) this week suddenly switched from its own studio set facilities to making use of SuperSport's studio and existing set at M-Net in Randburg, with the TV news channel that has refused to respond to media enquiries on whether the change is Covid-19 or new set construction related.
On Monday Newzroom Afrika started to originate from the "old" SuperSport set at M-Net's Randburg complex in Johannesburg - that has also been used by Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) - instead of Newzroom Afrika's usual main studio complex on the corner of 4th Avenue and 7th Street in Linden.
Viewers and the media noticed immediately but Newzroom Afrika has so far refused to respond to media enquiries.
TVwithThinus asked Zamahlasela Gabela, Newzroom Afrika's marketing and publicity boss, and Faith Moliea (who is currently on leave) in multiple media enquiries since Monday about the Newzroom Afrika SuperSport studio change, and on Tuesday also called.
Newzroom Afrika was asked whether the studio change to SuperSport is because of Covid-19 contamination at the Newzroom Afrika building in Johannesburg, or whether it's because the existing set design is being upgraded or redesigned or in the process of being replaced through new construction - the two most likely explanations.
By Wednesday afternoon Newzroom Afrika hasn't bothered to respond to any of the queries.
Earlier this year Newzroom Afrika operations started to be directly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, similar to other TV news outlets, with the TV news channel that saw staffers testing positive for Covid-19 in both Cape Town and Johannesburg and the Linden newsroom cordoning off sections, creating one-way corridors and ending things like desk swapping.