by Thinus Ferreira
A barrage of shocked and angry DStv subscribers are slamming eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel branded a "huge disaster" for its apparent dumbed-down decision to cancel its own The South African Morning block in favour of simulcasting e.tv's low-rated and cheap-looking The Morning Show with less emphasis on news.
eNCA viewers are furious and perplexed over eNCA's decision to dumb down its morning block with the The Morning Show and its dubious production values, slammed as "totally poor and amateurish" by DStv subscribers.
The Morning Show is produced by Cheeky Media for e.tv.
Many viewers can't understand why eNCA decided to now show e.tv's free-to-air and badly done version of a morning programme on eNCA.
eNCA and The Morning Show have not been met with a barrage of turned off viewers tuning out and with the show and eNCA coming in for harsh criticism over technical errors, bad presenters, sound problems, presenters eating KFC and lifestyle segments when what viewers tune to eNCA for is to get the news.
eNCA's schedule changed on Monday 1 May adding The Morning Show in the place of the dumped The South African Morning, together with a rebrand of the eNCA logo.
These changes are not going down well with eNCA viewers, especially not the substitution of The Morning Show which is a free TV programme now on MultiChoice channel for pay-TV viewers of DStv.
"We have e.tv on DStv. If I had wanted to look at that crap I would have put my TV on that channel," a disgruntled longtime eNCA viewer said about the eye-popping decision that was made by eNCA managing editor John Bailey and Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director.
"What happened to your morning news show?" asked Pavan Sikka. "From proper news to fluff pieces and no real news? Change the current format or risk losing viewers".
eMedia and e.tv didn't bother to put out any specific press release to the media beforehand about The Morning Show adding Faith Mangope and Brighton Mhlongo, or about the show being simulcast on eNCA from May.
About yet another rebrand of eNCA, eMedia and eNCA also didn't bother to issue any press release to the media, with eMedia only mailing media a press statement on Tuesday 2 May, a day after the on-air changes had already come into effect for DStv subscribers.
Meanwhile, eNCA and eMedia are facing an avalanche of vitriol comments from upset eNCA viewers who note that they're switching to rival Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) and the SABC's Morning Live show.
No execs were offered to the media for interviews beforehand to explain the upcoming eNCA changes, with neither eMedia nor eNCA that seemed to have anticipated any backlash from viewers or thought it necessary to explain or give context to what would be changing and why.
"Worst mistake eNCA could have done to change the morning show," remarked Byron Small. "Viewing numbers will plummet. Rather watching Morning Live now".
"New morning show is boring! Please bring back actual news and relevant insight," said Anthony Tait.
"Where is the news?" asked Bette Kun. "I tried this new one again today and I can't, just can't. Everyone is shouting at each other. Why is it so dark? It's horrible. Sorry. Bring back Tumelo and Gareth."
Lerato complained about the sponsored-filled The Morning Show saying "it's giving radio gossip. We want seriousness and breaking news. What is this? Yesterday they were interviewing people about KFC Crunch chicken. What!"
Lindsay said "The format of The Morning Show is completely wrong. If I wanted this I'd tune to SABC3! I need the news and intelligent debate before starting work, not watching someone making French toast. Bring back Gareth and Tumelo".
Funiwe Moshapalo want to know "where is the morning news? Why are we having entertainment interviews like it's a Saturday? What's going on?" while another remarked: "I don't want to hear about itchy, scaly scalps at 7:30am. Whose bright idea was this?"
"What nonsense is this?" asks King Gatsheni. "I woke up to catch news headlines - not this useless rubbish on my screen right now. Why change something that wasn't broken?"
"Why did you replace Gareth and Tumelo with this rubbish?" Lily wants to know, saying "Come on, eNCA you are better than this".
Jane Webster says the new eNCA morning is "a crock of shit. Nobody needs a review of books at 6:15am in the morning. We need news, weather and traffic by competent, articulate journalists".
Louis Changuion says The Morning Show is "disappointing from a business perspective. I had to make sure that I was actually watching a news channel and not an actuality programme".
"A variety show in the morning?" asked another viewer. "Is this management's answer to a high LSM-focused news programme? Screaming presenters and 8 minutes of news content at 7am."
"When I thought you couldn't make more blunders. You just ruined the morning show, which was one of the good programmes you had left," remarked Gabisile Ngcobo.
"It's a hard No for the new look and new show," says Robin. "Totally poor and amateurish. Switching to Newzroom Afrika and Morning Live."
Caron Hill says "eNCA is my go-to channel for local news but will definitely give The Morning Show a miss from now on. Amateurish and dated look out of the 80s."
Gertie Ramalho says "I am in total disbelief that eNCA has allowed this below par Morning Show to be aired on TV", with David Lewisohn saying: "Horrible eNCA news" with "a news reader that says 'you know' and 'of course' and 'err' twice in every sentence. Painful. I've moved to Newzroom Afrika and the two presenters are such pleasant professionals".
Patience Mokoena said: "Packed my bags and moved to Newzroom this morning."
