TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 21 August 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:



■ Covid-19: Say goodbye to sex on television: British screen director's association publishes helpful intimacy on-screen guidlines:
Bodies could be depicted "moving under bedclothes".
"Close a bedroom door аnd leаve the аction to the viewer’s imаginаtion."
- Directors should take inspiration from classic films when depiction of sex on screen was banned.


■ After massive backlash and petition Netflix apologises for "inappropriate" poster of Cuties sexualising 11-year old girls.
- Netflix's "disgusting" film a negative influence.

■ Tosh.0 on Comedy Central (DStv 122) cancelled after shocking reversal of 4 season renewal.

■ Netflix disappoints with Transformers: War for Cybertron after controversy over not using union voice talent and warnings that using cheap talent sets a dangerous precendent for the industry.

■ Nigeria's government continues to attack MultiChoice, once again summos MultiChoice Nigeria to appear over its DStv Nigeria subscription fee increase that came into effect on 1 June 2020.

■ The SABC and e.tv will have to urgently find ways to position themselves as broadcasters beyond their current business models or risk falling too far behind MultiChoice and streaming services like Netflix.

■ Discovery Inc. distances itself from the homophobic Homestead Rescue star Marty Raney.

■ MOZO TV launches in Zambia as a new TV channel to showcase Africa's lifestyle, politics and economics.

■ Netflix is testing a shuffle play button for viewers struggling to decide what to watch.

■ Amazon Prime Video commercial sparks a boycott in Japan.

■ Positive Covid-19 cases reported at Television City in Los Angeles where The Bold and the Beautiful restarted filming.


■ BBC News boss Fran Unsworth says some TV news bulletins might be cut.
"TV journalism will still be around because of the power of pictures to tell a story, but it won't necessarily be received in quite the forms it currently is."


■ Netflix cancels Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj as the streaming service struggles with topical talk shows.

■ Australian Broadcasting Corporation's chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici quits over ABC censorship claims.

■ Egypt's opposition TV channels are a rare phenomenon.

■ TV anchor Anjali Rao told she's "too brown" for commercial TV (subscription required).

Police raid on Australia's public broadcaster ABC condemned by Britain's BBC and Canada's CBC, South Africa's SABC silent.

A shocking police raid on the headquarters of Australia's public broadcaster, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in the week has been condemned by the media in Australia, as well as by international media and other public broadcasters, South Africa excluded.

On Wednesday Australian police carried out a shocking raid on the headquarters of Australia's ABC in Sydney, claiming that that country's broadcaster had allegedly published classified information in a 2017-series on alleged abuses by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) along with three IT-specialists spent 8 hours combing through the computers inside the ABC in search of the so-called "Afghan Files".

Ita Buttrose, ABC board chairperson, says the ABC will fight any attempt to muzzle the broadcaster and that the police raid was "designed to intimidate" as "a blunt signal of adverse consequences for news organisations who make life uncomfortable for policy makers and regulators by shining lights in dark corners and holding the powerful to account".

"While there are legitimate matters of national security that the ABC will always respect, the ABC Act and charter are explicit about the importance of an independent public broadcaster to Australian culture and democracy."

"Public interest is best served by the ABC doing its job, asking difficult questions and dealing with genuine whistle-blowers who risk their livelihoods and reputations to bring matters of grave import to the surface. Neither the journalists nor their sources should be treated as criminals."

"In my view, legitimate journalistic endeavours that expose flawed decision-making or matters that policy makers and public servants would simply prefer were secret, should not automatically and conveniently be classed as issues of national security."

"The onus must always be on the public’s right to know. If that is not reflected sufficiently in current law, then it must be corrected," says Ita Buttrose.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) condemned the raid on the ABC in a statement, saying "The police raid against our partners at ABC is an attack on press freedom which we at the BBC find troubling".

"At a time when the media is becoming less free across the world it is highly worrying if a public broadcaster is being targeted for doing its job of reporting in the public interest."

Canada's Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) condemned the raid on the ABC in a statement, saying "it's an attack on basic journalistic freedoms that are part of a democratic system".

"We also feel the public at large need to be concerned as well," says Jennifer McGuire, editor-in-chief and general manager of CBC News, in a statement.

"Protecting and defending a free press and its ability to report on institutions and governments without fear of reprisals is a foundational principle and a key to an open society."

New Zealand's Media Freedom Committee representing New Zealand media outlets like TVNZ, NZME, Mediaworks, RNZ and Allied Press says in a statement the raid on ABC is "part of a disturbing worldwide trend of security organisations targeting journalists for simply doing their job, an attack on press freedom, and an attempt to deter Australian journalists from doing their vital job".

"It's not unusual to hear of these sorts of media crackdowns in police states and authoritarian regimes, but it's unusual and extremely disturbing to see it happening in Australia. Journalism is not a crime and journalists should not be subjected to this sort of pressure for rightfully carrying out their work."

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was asked if it has any comment about the police raid on the ABC but has remained silent with SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu who didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment.

BREAKING. Roseanne cancelled after Roseanne Barr's racist Twitter rant calling former Obama advisor a product of the 'Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes'; 'there was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing,' says Disney CEO Rogert Iger.

The hit revival of the comedy series Roseanne that has already been renewed for a second season has been abruptly cancelled on Tuesday evening following Roseanne Barr's racist rant on social media.

The hit comedy series, the most watched scripted TV show this season in America is officially scrapped after Roseanne Barr tweeted on Tuesday that Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to America's previous president Barack Obama looked like the "Muslim Brotherhood and the Planet of the Apes had a baby".

After massive outrage, Roseanne Barr deleted the tweet and then apologised, saying "my joke was in bad taste".

America's ABC network was initially silent and refused to respond, until ABC issued a statement saying Roseanne is cancelled.

Channing Dungey, ABC entertainment president in a statement said "Roseanne's racist Twitter rant "is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel the show."

Disney CEO Robert Iger said "There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing".

Roseanne was already renewed in March for a 13-episode second season with pre-production underway when Roseanne let loose her racist rant, that prompted comedian Wanda Sykes, a consulting producer to quit and say she won't be involved with Roseanne for the second season any longer. "I will not be returning to Roseanne," Wanda Sykes tweeted.

Roseanne showrunner Bruce Helford in a statement said "On behalf of all the writers and producers, we worked incredibly hard to create an amazing show. I was personally horrified and saddened by the comments and in no way do they reflect the values of the people who worked so hard to make this the iconic show that it is."

Sara Gilbert who played Roseanne's daughter on Roseanne tweeted that her comments "are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love - one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member."

Emma Kenney, who played Darlene and David's daughter,  said "I am hurt, embarrassed, and disappointed. The racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable".

The revived Roseanne that has not yet shown up on any TV channels in South Africa - neither the SABC nor M-Net (DStv 101), e.tv or anything else on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, now likely won't.

No South African broadcaster will want to be associated with Roseanne's racism, making selling the show internationally, and in South Africa now difficult, of not impossible.

The end of the CBS Evening News for DStv subscribers on Sky News as CBS News suddenly drops Sky for a new news sharing pact with BBC News.

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."

First black woman becomes the boss at a major American TV network as Channing Dungey replaces the ousted Paul Lee who was pushed out in a power struggle.

The first black woman has been appointed as the boss at a major American TV network, with Channing Dungey taking over after the abrupt ouster of Paul Lee who was pushed out and kicked to the curb in an internal power struggle.

ABC shows are most visible in South Africa on M-Net's set of TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

These ABC titles range from hits like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal (called The Fixer in South Africa) to disappointments like The Muppets and Agent Carter on M-Net (DStv 101), as well as shows like How to Get Away with Murder, Blackish, Pretty Little Liars and Quantico on Vuzu Amp (DStv 114).

The New York Times first reported how Paul Lee has been pushed out and forced to resign after an acrimonious internal power struggle with his boss, Ben Sherwood, chairman of the Disney-ABC Television Group.

Plummeting ratings for ABC was used as an excuse to get rid of Paul Lee, with Channing Dingey now taking over as ABC entertainment president.

According to the New York Times, Paul Lee and Ben Sherwood "repeatedly clashed".

With sagging ratings, ABC fell from third to the joint fourth rated TV network in America.

ABC is also having content problems like behind-the-scenes troubles at new dramas like Shonda Rhimes' upcoming The Catch that will be shown on M-Net, The Muppets that is getting retooled, as well as the Biblical period drama Of Kings & Prophets that's filmed in South Africa and already underwent several reshoots.

Both shows have seen their original premiere dates being pushed backed because of troubles.

After the news of Paul Lee's ouster broke, Disney that owns ABC didn't respond to multiple calls for comment.

Eventually on Wednesday night, a hilariously fake-friendly press release:

"Leading ABC has been a fantastic experience. I'm especially proud of the incredible team I built and the strategic, creative vision we established and successfully executed for both the network and studio, said Paul Lee in a statement, making no mention that he was forced to abruptly resign and of the clashes with Ben Sherwood.

"Channing Dungey is a gifted leader and a proven magnet for top creative talent, with an impressive record of developing compelling, breakthrough programming that resonates with viewers," said Ben Sherwood in the statement, announcing her appointment.

So sudden is the appointment of Channing Dungey that there is nobody yet to take over her position as ABC's executive vice president for drama development, movies and miniseries.

"We thank Paul Lee for his many accomplishments at ABC and his devotion to the ABC brand, and we wish him continued success in the future," said Ben Sherwood in the statement and who orchestrated Paul Lee's ouster according to The New York Times.

In the statement Channing Dungey says: "I'm thrilled and humbled that Ben Sherwood has entrusted me with this tremendous opportunity. And I am truly grateful to Paul Lee for being a valued mentor and friend. I've had the great honor of working alongside the talented team at ABC for many years and look forward to starting this exciting new chapter with them".