Another prime time line-up rejig on CNN International from 10 September as Christiane Amanpour goes an hour and Julia Chatterley's business show, First Move, makes its debut.

CNN is overhauling its programming line-up for CNN International (DStv 401) in South Africa as well as the rest of the African continent and the Middle East, that will kick in from 10 September when Christiane Amanpour's reformatted hour-long show makes its debut.

The latest CNN schedule shuffle however still has no dedicated African news programme during prime time for African viewers in the way that other global news channels like BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / Openview 112 / Cell C black 501) has the daily Focus on Africa at 19:30, or CGTN (DStv 409 / StarSat 266 ) has the daily Africa Live at 19:00, covering Africa during prime time.

CNN that has agreed to a simulcast of Christiane Amanpour's current affairs programme in the United States on the PBS channel, decided to use the programme's expansion to an hour long show in America and the addition of contributors, to rejig and rebuild the programming schedule of CNN International around it.

From 10 September when the half hour Amanpour changes its name to Amanpour & Company in the United States, the hour long show will now start on weekdays at 19:00 on CNN International - an hour earlier.

As TVwithThinus previously reported, Amanpour & Company will add the four journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan as contributors, and will feature wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports".

This will be followed by Hala Gorani Tonight that from 10 September will move to an earlier timeslot of 20:00 instead of 21:00 on weekdays on CNN International.

Richard Quest's Quest Means Business is also moving an hour earlier from 10 September and will now run at 21:00 instead of 22:00 on weekdays, continuing with its often-irreverent analysis and interviews of the day's global and American business news.

The news channel from Turner Broadcasting that often abruptly interrupted scheduled shows on CNN International with The Lead with Jake Tapper is now giving the show a fixed timeslot on CNN International from 10 September and will be shown at 22:00.

The Lead with Jake Tapper will do commentary and analysis of the day's headlines from the United States, a show that doesn't really so much resonate with African viewers.

CNN Today, co-anchored by Amara Walker and Michael Holmes, is also moving an hour earlier and instead of midnight, will now start at 23:00 on CNN International from 10 September - still covering the day's global headlines from around the world.

State of America, the weekday talk show about Donald Trump's day that was recently dumped from the schedule and replaced by a nightly repeat of CNN Talk with Max Foster, will return as a weekly show on Fridays from 14 September, again anchored by the preppy Kate Bolduan, and now closing out the week at 23:00 on CNN International.

CNN International says CNN World Sport will break into programming with bulletins across the schedule".

The Africa-focused programming strands, Marketplace Africa, African Voices and Inside Africa remain on the schedule and will continue to be part of CNN International's schedule across the week, with news from across the African continent that will continue to feature in CNN International's main shows as and when it happens.

During the day on CNN International, CNN Talk with Max Foster will remain in its usual midday timeslot of 13:00.

In the afternoon on CNN International there will also be two changes. As previously reported, Bloomberg Television's Julia Chatterley is joining CNN International and her new business news show, First Move with Julia Chatterley, will now be seen at 15:00 in the afternoon.

Julia Chatterley will report from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and will cover the latest market moves in the United States and around the world.

Julia Chatterley will also appear in the recently introduced Quest Express with Richard Quest that remains in its 18:00 timeslot, but is apparently changing its programme title to The Express.

"With new shows and expanded programming, these changes will benefit our audiences enormously," says Mike McCarthy, the senior vice president and general manager of CNN International.

"Across business, current affairs, politics, culture and sport, CNN International viewers will get the complete picture, from around the world, in one place."


CNN International programme/timeslot changes from 10 September:
Now                                                                          10 September
15:00 CNN Money with Maggie Lake                     15:00 First Move with Julia Chatterley
16:00 International Desk
17:00 Connect the World with Becky Anderson
18:00 Quest Express                                                   18:00 The Express
19:00 Wolf                                                                     19:00 Amanpour
20:00 Amanpour / CNN Talk                                   20:00 Hala Gorani Tonight
21:00 Hala Gorani Tonight                                        21:00 Quest Means Business
22:00 Quest Means Business                                    22:00 The Lead with Jake Tapper
23:00 Amanpour (repeat)                                          23:00 CNN Today

Charlize Theron on CNN International about America: 'Racism is alive and well and that scares me'; says some lives are valued more than others.

The South African film star Charlize Theron on Wednesday night in an interview on CNN International (DStv 401) said that in America "I see racism alive and well and that scares me".

The star is currently back in South Africa with Comedy Central's (DStv 122) The Daily Show host Trevor Noah doing charity work in her home country.

Charlize Theron's comments came after American president Donald Trump's chaotic and shocking press conference on Tuesday where he said there was "violence on both sides" after neo-Nazi demonstrators clashed with counter-protesters and that saw a neo-Nazi terrorist ram into people with a car, killing a woman.

Donald Trump failed to properly condemn the white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia in the United States and shocked America and the world with his unhinged press conference inside Trump Towers on Tuesday.

Speaking on Wednesday evening from Johannesburg on CNN International's Amanpour, Charlize Theron also spoke about the HIV/Aids epidemic in South Africa, with Donald Trump's administration that also did massive cutbacks to supporting international health programmes financially.

"When you look at the amount of people that are infected and how the Aids epidemic has ravaged sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade versus what's been happening in the Western world, how can you deny" that some lives are being valued more than others said Charlize Theron who is the founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.

"I think that some lives are valued more than others. I think that goes beyond the Aids epidemic. I'm seeing it right now in America."

"I think that we have to look at that as a global front. We have to be brave enough to look at that as part of the problem that's been keeping the Aids epidemic alive for so long."

Asked about the broader context and her view on what's been happening in America in Charlottesville, Charlize Theron said "I see racism alive and well and that scares me. And saddens me."

Angelina Jolie tells Christiane Amanpour on CNN International what she tells her children about the world, justice, and equality.

Angelina Jolie is speaking out against rape as a weapon of war and opened up to Christiane Amanpour on CNN International (DStv 401) about what she tells her children about the world, justice and equality.

Last night the Hollywood superstar and William Hague, the United Kingdom's foreign secretary, spoke with Christiane Amanpour on Amanpour in a sit-down interview about ending the scourge of rape being used as a weapon of war.

There is currently a four day summit in London about the issue - the largest of its kind yet.

On Amanpour the minister and the movie star said their global efforts to try and end rape as a weapon of war is needed because the world needs to talk about an issue it doesn't want to talk about.

"As we talk about empowering women, we also need to empower men and boys," said Angelina Jolie.

"There are many great husbands and leaders who love and support women. And as a part of the education of young boys they need to feel that they have a duty to protect their sisters and their mothers and their wives and that they see it as a strength," said Angelina Jolie.

Christiane Amanpour asked Angelina Jolie, a United Nations special envoy, what she tells her own children about gender equality and justice in the world.

"I'm very, very open with my children. Some of my children have come from countries that were in conflict with each other. A son who is Cambodian, a son who is Vietnamese. So we have lots of discussions in the house".

"My daughter is African. And we talk about civil rights. And they look at their sister and think of how many years ago how different their relationship to their sister would have been".

Angelina Jolie said she tries to take film roles that depict strong women.

"Even my little girl, showing her Tomb Raider. She sees Spider-Man and and all  these examples of boy things. I can show her that - something I didn't have when I was growing up. It's been fun that in film there's strong women. And also not strong women who's anti-men; strong women who love men and are strong women".

Russia Today's mind-boggling, rolling propaganda is placed in stark contrast when RT's Thabang Motsei comes up against CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

While Christiane Amanpour of Amanpour on CNN International (DStv 401) showed global TV viewers on Monday night with honest facts and insight exactly how Russia is going to get damaged economically and politically through imposed sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine's Crimea ...

... at the exact same time South Africa's Thabang Motsei on Russia's RT (DStv 407) was spouting insane propaganda-driven drivel not just damaging her and RT's credibility, but making for hilarious viewing for anyone interested in media studies.

RT's ongoing laughably one-sided broadcasting favouring Russia and nothing else and not giving any other side of the story, came into sharp contrast on Monday night when the once-respected anchor Thabang Motsei inflicted further serious career-damage to her name and journalism brand.

Thabang Motsei came across as a sad, light-weight, and out of her depth propaganda TV drone when she presented RT's nightly newscast directly opposite the best, the most informed, and the most respected global TV news woman, Christiane Amanpour.

Never in the history of Russia Today has the 24-hour TV news channel been so utterly blatantly propagandist and one-sided.

The trust and credibility RT had, has now surely completely evaporated as global viewers will definitely not see Russia Today any longer as a news channel but as a direct propaganda communication tool for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

RT's shocking lack of balance, avalanche of spin and propaganda, and unbelievable bad presentation in terms of covering Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region came into stark clarity and contrast on Monday when RT's propaganda pandering played out at the same time against a show such as Amanpour.

Christiane Amanpour showed in a clear, concise and full perspective how Russia is getting, and going to get damaged economically and politically, and explained why, and also showed how the damage and fallout is and will be much greater for Russia.

On RT, viewers waited for Thabang Motsei to tell then that Hobbits really do exist, that dragons really do exist, and that dwarfes (that really do exist) have started a fight with a dragon.

Thabang Motsei's unrelenting and insanely dished up news melodrama on Russia Today was headshakingly odd. It seems as if RT is clueless or deliberately oblivious that global TV news viewers (and RT is made and broadcast specifically for global viewers) also have access to other TV news channels.

Cold War type trashaganza only works and worked due to the absence of other knowledge or information or the deliberate drowning out of other points of view. But Russia Today is surrounded by multiple TV news channels on the pay-TV platforms in countries such as South Africa and elsewhere.

If RT remained more subtle in its approach, more restrained and more cleverly in its presentation and "facts" perhaps it wouldn't have been so jarring.

Watching RT and its unrelenting Russian propaganda on full display, is like watching a temporal worm hole broadcasting a modern-day, yet 80s inspired version of what a 24-hour global TV news channel would have been if it existed then - but done looking like Russia today.

Christiane Amanpour on CNN International defends imprisoned Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt.

Christiane Amanpour on Amanpour on CNN International (DStv 401) on Tuesday night got into a heated discussion on television as she defended imprisoned journalists from Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 401).

During an extremely testy interview as she tried to get Naguib Sawaris, the former chairman of Orascom in Egypt, to answer her basic questions, Christiane Amanpour stood up for journalism and journalists jailed and prevented from doing their work in Egypt.

"Three of my colleagues are in jail for doing their job," said Christiane Amanpour during the interview with Naguib Sawaris.

"There are three journalists - at least right now - from international news organisations, including a former CNN'er, who are accused of terrorism. And this is simply being thrown out to tar anybody who disagrees."

"Do they have valid permits to work as correspondents in Egypt?" asked Naguib Sawaris.

"Mister Sawaris, yes of course they do. My question to you is this going to continue this way?" said Christiane Amanpour.

"Are you referring to Al Jazeera delegates in Cairo?"

A audibly irritated Christiane Amanpour, like a head mistress with years of wisdom who knows that patience and calm are virtues when dressing down a rebellious child or doing live interviews, gathered herself.

"Mister Sawaris ... I'm referring to journalists who've been arrested. Because of the work they've been doing. And the opinions that they've either expressed or not. But they're considered enemies of the state. This is a bigger problem which I'm trying to get you to answer," said Christiane Amanpour.

"Mister Sawaris, I also happen to know how this works, and anytime a journalist is in trouble, allegations are made against them, such as they don't have a permit. Lets move beyond the technicalities because they are sitting in jail right now."

Naguib Sawaris launched into a rant against Al Jazeera, saying "I would invite you to watch Al Jazeera. They're doing an incitement trip against Egypt. They're falsifying facts. They're making up stories. And they're acting to disturb."

"Egyptians are really shocked at the lowliness of the level of Al Jazeera that gone to. It's not like that these people are like you trying to be correct or show the truth. They're out fabricating stories. And the minimum they should have done is getting a permit for that," said Naguib Sawaris.

Christiane Amanpour clearly had enough.

"These are allegations which they've obviously denied and we deny it on behalf of our colleagues as well," she said.

GREAT CALL. CNN International stays with Christiane Amanpour and extends her show for brilliant coverage of Egypt's street politik.

CNN International (DStv 401) was the singular best television news source on Wednesday night for amazing rolling news coverage of Egyptian street politik and the live populist coup of the Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi.

CNN International's coverage was infused with exceptionally intelligent gravitas, context and on-the-minute background when CNN International decided to keep Christiane Amanpour on the air and to extend her daily news and current affairs magazine show Amanpour.

It made for terrific news television because it not only covered live breaking news, but it managed to transform and elevate it by instantly bringing well-sourced, intelligent context and impartial commentary and background to give perspective on the unfolding events.

Christiane Amanpour's always well produced Amanpour, usually a live daily half hour show at 21:00 on CNN International done from New York, started as usual on Wednesday night and was aided that the news of the ousting of Mohamed Morsi happened during her show. The show didn't miss a single second of taking in all the breaking news and appropriately and amazingly adding to it.

Amanpour was extended to a hour show and lasted until 22:00, which made Amanpour the definitive television news coverage to watch.

The pivotal anchor kept everything together and brought unsurpassed news gravitas and insight - usually missing from live breaking news events, to the unfolding Egyptian popular uprising.

Christiane Amanpour seamlessly switched between bringing in CNN's foreign correspondents with live shots, to talking to an Egyptian political science experts (an Egyptian female professor no less) in studio and talking to former Egyptian military as well as political leaders as well during the hour.

Breaking television news rarely has the opportunity to do this; rarely has the resources; or the functionality and timing. On Wednesday Amanpour had it - great rolling news coverage from CNN's very best international journalists which was be instantly infused with exceptional pre-arranged studio guests, Christiane Amanpour's own extensive background and insight, and links to Egyptians talking from across the country.

After a simply terrible hour between 22:00 and 23:00 of The Lead with Jake Tapper when CNN International switched to CNN's American feed with shockingly pathetic, shallow Egypt lite coverage and laughable tabloid trash Travon Martin trial coverage while massive news was taking place in Egypt, CNN International was back at 23:00 with more Amanpour.

Amanpour at 23:00 on CNN International is usually a half hour repeat of the day's episode, but Christiane Amanpour was back with ongoing live coverage and perspective. The "new" additional half hour remained half an hour.


Meanwhile it was South Africa's Paula Slier who did live coverage and live updates for RT (DStv 405) on Wednesday evening as that news channel's foreign correspondent perked atop high rise buildings with many other news reporters overlooking Tahrir Square.

DRAMA WRACKING THE RAINBOW NATION. Amanpour on CNN International and the story which 'transfix the world'.

The murder case against the star athlete Oscar Pistorius who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp remains and dominant story worldwide; it was the main story on Christiane Amanpour's Amanpour on Wednesday night on CNN International (DStv 401).

Interestingly, Debora Patta of 3rd Degree on e.tv appeared on Amanpour to talk about the Oscar Pistorius murder case, with the story which took up the entire first half of Amanpour on Wednesday night.

"[The story] continues to rattle South Africa and transfix much of the world," said Christiane Amanpour live from New York. "The story of the heroic, disabled athlete who overcame adversity to compete in the Olympic games - his fall from grace is all playing out like a Greek tragedy."

"Meantime South Africa looks on in stupefied disbelief against a mounting series of blows to the national psyche - what one political commentator calls a 'war against women' culminating recently in the horrific gang rape and death of a 17 year old girl which had many South Africans calling for a change of culture even before the Oscar Pistorius case."

Christiane Amanpour called it the "drama wracking the rainbow nation".

Debora Patta was Christiane Amanpour's guest tonight. "Part of the probem is that South African wants its heroes to be flawless. We want to believe so badly in this metaphor of inspiration."

"We look at this specimen of humanity who overcame incredible odds. We're so in love with that narrative that we don't look enough and not deeply enough at the person behind it."

After the SABC muzzles Julius Malema, the former ANC Youth leader gives an interview to Christiane Amanpour in CNN International.

After the SABC muzzled Julius Malema and cancelled on an interview with the disgraced former ANC Youth leader, Juju as he's popularly referred to, gave a television interview to Christiane Amanpour on Amanpour on CNN International (DStv 401) last night.

After Julius Malema's scheduled SABC interview for Tuesday night on MetroFM was suddenly cancelled by order of SABC management, the controversial Julius Malema who've now inserted himself into the Lonmin and South African mining crisis appeared Tuesday night on Amanpour,.

Julius Malema told Christiane Amanpour that "we want all workers, including the imemployed, to come together and demand what rightfully belongs to them ... we have come to the point where we must say enough is enough."

Christiane Amanpour in Cairo talking to Aung San Suu Kyi in Oslo - and the true brilliance of global 24 hour news.

Sadly it doesn't happen often - it doesn't even happen 24 hours of the day - but when global television news lives up to the best of what it should and can be, and makes full use of its true reach such as CNN International (DStv 401) showed last night with Christiane Amanpour, the result is nothing short of spectacular, impactful, amazing and inspiring.

In Amanpour Friday night on CNN International, South African TV viewers and viewers around the world, saw the always-brilliant Christiane Amanpour - uniquely the undisputed "news Oprah" of the world with all her high profile exclusive interview "gets" - interviewing Aung San Suu Kyi.

Why amazing? First off, Christiane Amanpour did the interview by satellite from Cairo, Egypt. Christiane Amanpour took her New York based weekday show Amanpour to Cairo and did the show from there the past few days covering the aftermath of the Egyptian elections.

Then Christiane Amanpour interviewed Aung San Suu Kyi live who's based in Oslo, Norway after she visited Britain earlier this week.

How incredibly rare and actually extraordinary a moment to be watching in one part of the world - wherever the viewer is based - the world's best television news journalist based in another part of the world, doing an insightful, revealing and great interview with a high profile international news maker based in yet another part of the world.

Despite the explosion of global 24 hour TV news channels and the plethora of choices, something like Christiane Amanpour, based out-of-studio in a foreign location, interviewing someone live for longer than the 2 minute satellite link-up limit also based out-of-studio in also a foreign location simply does not happen as often as one would think.

It shows what is truly possible (yet very expensive and time-consuming to book and execute) for global television news and what is possible for this medium and this genre and this news platform when it meets its highest form of functionality.

If you think for a minute of what it takes to link Cairo with Oslo live, then broadcast it to the world, after getting the interviewee to agree for a sit-down, and having surely had very little time to try and book the guest, its truly amazing what's possible.

Kudos to CNN International and Christiane Amanpour specifically for remaining true to a ethos of real news values; for pushing for relevancy and immediacy in an environment and an era where most of what is real news has largely fallen by the wayside, and for using the bit of satellite link time available and utilising it for the best substantive content that the medium - and the production team - can deliver.

AS IF SHE NEVER LEFT. The brilliant Christiane Amanpour is back on CNN International, resuming her own weekday show with gravitas.

It was as if she never left: The brilliant Christiane Amanpour is back on CNN International (DStv 401) on weeknights at 21:00 (South African time) with her own (old) show Amanpour which looked like and ran like an incredibly well-oiled news machine.

Everything from Amanpour and Amanpour on its launch episode on Monday night on CNN International was familiar, smooth, fair and objective - just like when she did Amanpour previously.

She started her own show, Amanpour in September 2009 on CNN International but left the news channel and her show in August 2010.

Later in 2010 when I interviewed CNN International executives from London during a trip to Uganda, a high ranking CNN executive - when I asked how they really feel about Christiane Amanpour leaving, told me this (with a wry smile): "We love her. And to be honest I don't think Christiane is really gone. I more think of it as 'she is on loan'. She's on loan from us. We're just allowing her to go and do something else for a bit but Christiane Amanpour is and will always be a part of CNN. She's part of our DNA."

The Amanpour set looks basically the same with a few small adjustments; the opening title and music remains basically unchanged, even the format of the show is the same as before which only added a "The Brief'' section showing Christiane Amanpour's strength and insight over news events and the players shaping the news agenda which she's built up over many years.

Every day's episode can also be watched in full online at  http://www.amanpour.com/

"Let me start by saying how delighted I am to be back broadcasting from this seat again. I aim to bring you the big ideas and the top stories, including tonight an exclusive interview with the Afghan president Hamid Karzai," Christiane Amanpour said in Monday's debut show.

''I also want to explore stories in-depth, so each night I'll be starting the programme with The Brief, drawing upon different perspectives and my own experience in the field to explore the whole picture."

BREAKING. Amanpour will start on Monday 16 April on CNN International at 22:00, followed by Isha Sesay's new show.

Amanpour with Christiane Amanpour will be back on CNN International (DStv 401) and start on Monday 16 April at 22:00 (South African time) and run on weekdays.

CNN International just updated the generic promo the past month which said ''Coming soon, Amanpour'' with a new one containing a date: ''Amanpour, starting April 16th''.

This means that Isha Sesay who is also getting her own new show will also start her show on 16 April on CNN International in the 22:30 timeslot following Amanpour.

Last month RIGHT HERE I told about Christiane Amanpour's return when CNN International also announced the new schedule grid for CNN International's primetime line-up - which will now obviosuly kick in from 16 April.

BREAKING. Christiane Amanpour back on CNN International very soon, and on weekdays, with her old-new show, Amanpour.

She's brilliant, she's back - and it will really be as if she never left: CNN International (DStv 401) just announced that Christiane Amanpour, which the global news channel announced in December 2011 would be back on the channel, will return very soon on weekdays to CNN International with her show entitled, Amanpour.

Amanpour was the name of Christiane Amanpour's show which she started in September 2009 and continued to do until she left CNN International in August 2010 for America's ABC network. Now it be as if she never went away.

CNN International just announced that the half hour Amanpour will start very soon on the channel and will be a weekday show broadcast at 22:00 (South African time) and a repeat at 00:00.

ALSO READ: Isha Sesay getting her own, as-yet-untitled new weekday show on CNN International very soon.

The new Amanpour will be part of a major schedule shake-up for CNN International as far as South Africa, African and European viewers are concerned, with the strong journalistic credentials of Amanpour forming the centrepiece of of the dynamic new scheduling line-up.

Liza McGuirk will be the executive producer of Amanpour based in New York with Christiane Amanpour from where Amanpour was done previously.

''We are delighted to see Amanpour return to the heart of CNN International's lineup,'' says Tony Maddox, the executive vice president and managing director of CNN International in a statement just announcing the news.

''Christiane has proven herself time and time again to be the leading international journalist in television news and with Liza's commitment to producing compelling television, Amanpour will showcase the very best CNN has to offer,'' says Tony Maddox.

''I'm thrilled that Christiane's powerful, utterly original journalistic voice will once again be heard around the world, and I look forward to helping her shape an important program at a time of great global change,'' says Liza McGuirk.

With Amanpour, CNN International says it will once again be offering Europe and Africa's viewers ''a destination programme featuring one of the world's most distinguished journalists''.

''Known for her tough questions and extraordinary depth of knowledge, Amanpour will focus on international stories shaping the news agenda, delivering sharp analysis to an audience of more than 280 million households in more than 200 countries and territories around the world with CNN International.''

BREAKING. Christiane Amanpour's first guest . . . and Jacob Zuma is included

You're reading it here first. CNN just released the guest line-up for the first show of Christiane Amanpour's show Amanpour that starts on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

For the launch of her brand-new global news show Christiane will speak with Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Richard Holbrooke, the American special representative for Afghanistan.

Among the upcoming political leaders and cultural icons that she will interview about global issues and events, are South African President Jacob Zuma, the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

EXCLUSIVE. Christiane Amanpour - Part IV: 'I'm a storyteller'

''I'm a storyteller.''

So says Christiane Amanpour, the world's leading TV journalist who's own half hour news show called Amanpour that starts on Monday at 21:00 op CNN International (DStv 401).

I spoke with Christiane who is in New York from where her show will be beamed every weekday starting Monday, about her new global news platform.

I asked her what excited her the most about her work and this new opportunity and her is some of what she had to say.

''I'm a storyteller. I'm also an adventurer. I go out and I really feel that it's the great part of this profession. What excites me the most is to be able to bring that experience into the studio and go and try to bring stories not often being told these days, in more depth.''

''And that's what I hear from so many people: They love stories that show more and I'm hoping to be able to go more in depth and give more context. In terms of exciting interviews, we've got responses already from world leaders and the others who are out there on the public stage.''

''And also to hear from the people in those different countries – whether its from your country, whether it's from Iran, Afghanistan or hopefully North Korea – of course there's various degrees of difficulty penetrating various societies, but the fact that I would be able to try and do it.''

Check back all week this week, as I share some more of what Christiane had to say in the run-up to the debut of Amanpour on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

Part I - Christiane Amanpour: 'Yes. I cry.'

Part II - Christiane Amanpour: 'People want more understanding'

Part III - Christiane Amanpour 'I'm not going to change what I do . . . which is to seek the truth'

EXCLUSIVE. Christiane Amanpour - Part III: 'I'm not going to change what I do. . . which is to seek the truth'

''You know, I'm not going to change what I do, which is to seek the truth.''

So says the world's most recognized TV journalist Christiane Amanpour in New York, when I spoke with her about the global debut of her new weekday half hour news show, simply titled Amanpour that starts on Monday, 21 September on CNN International (DStv 401) at 21:00.

I asked Christiane, a roving global correspondent for CNN for the past two decades and who's renowned for her hard-hitting, objective and honest reporting around the world, whether she will still be travelling and reporting from the field.

''Of course!,'' she says. ''When I get the opportunity, I definitely will. I think that it's vital to constantly have your eyes and ears on the ground. And you know I'm not going to change what I do, which is to seek the truth, and speak the truth about all of these dramatic events that shape our lives, trying to seek the views of the decision makers and the people who are affected by the decisions being made. So, yes, there will be a definite field component to Amanpour as well.''

Check back all week this week, as I share some more of what Christiane had to say in the run-up to the debut of Amanpour on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

Part I - Christiane Amanpour: 'Yes. I cry.'

http://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2009/09/exclusive-part-i-christiane-amanpour.html

Part II - Christiane Amanpour: 'People want more understanding'

http://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2009/09/exclusive-part-ii-christiane-amanpour.html

EXCLUSIVE. Part II - Christiane Amanpour: 'People want more understanding'

''People want more understanding.'' So says Christiane Amanpour, the world's foremost TV journalist of our era when I spoke with her about her brand-new weekday show entitled Amanpour that will debut this Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

I asked her why now?

''I can and want to use this opportunity to go further in depth and give more context and perspective to some of the many stories that I have covered over the last 20 years as a CNN correspondent,'' she says.

And for those who fear that the intrepid TV journalist is kicking off and putting away her well worn boots and passports, guess again. She says she's not changing the muddy boots, crazy connecting flights and hard to reach places under difficult circumstances for bright studios lights in New York, studio make-up and a teleprompter completely.

''I will still be in the field. I will still travel the world.''

''I've spend many years travelling and reporting from around the world, from countries like South Africa, and in Africa and Bosnia and Afghanistan, Iran and all these kinds of places,'' says Christiane. ''What people are always asking me is that they want more information and more details about the stories that we've been covering.''

''What we've found is that that what people really mean is not that they want more information, people want more understanding.''

Check back all week this week, as I share some more of what Christiane had to say in the run-up to the debut of Amanpour on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

Part I - Christiane Amanpour: 'Yes. I cry.'

http://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2009/09/exclusive-part-i-christiane-amanpour.html

BREAKING. What TV news channel has the widest reach? . . .

You're reading the answer here first. A new study just out says CNN reaches a wider cross-platform audience (meaning people watching TV, on the internet and on cellphones etc.) than any other commercial TV news network.

The results from Synovate's European Media and Marketing Survey comes as CNN International (DStv 401) is planning to go very big from Monday when Amanpour starts (Monday at 21:00), Christiane Amanpour's brand new daily TV show and the centrepiece of CNN International's new weekday schedule. Each month, CNN International reaches 44.1% of Europe’s top money-makers per month, 16% more than closest TV competitor BBC World News (38%).

CNN International's new schedule heralds CNN's evolution into much more than a rolling news channel, says Tony Maddox, CNN International's managing director.

''Our strong positioning in this globally recognised research is a validation of CNN’s investment in newsgathering, new programming and generating content.''

EXCLUSIVE. Part I - Christiane Amanpour: 'Yes. I cry.'

''Yes. I cry.'' So says the world's best TV journalist and most authoritative global TV voice in journalism of our age, Christiane Amanpour, whose brand-new weekday show Amanpour starts on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

I spoke to Christiane in New York where she's preparing for her new daily, half hour news show, simply titled, Amanpour. In her terrific stories, usually first on the scene, with the best sources, and usually reporting live from hotspots around the world, you hardly ever see her waiver in her investigative approach or getting the story out. So I wondered if she ever gets sad about some of the things she sees.

''Yes. I cry. I'll tell you, what gets me the most is injustice,'' she reveals. ''The sense of the world's injustice. The sense and shape of justice is something that is close to my heart. And when I see gross violations of people's rights, typically children or women, it really does touch me. And there's so many instances where the emotion of it is so overwhelming,'' says Christiane.

''Now obviously I have to keep it together, I have to be an effective communicator, but I am very touched by the human drama and I try to tell those stories and use all my energy to tell those stories.''

I asked the multi-award winning journalist, recognized for her truthful and hard-hitting reporting, about the team putting Amanpour together – and her vision for her new show.

''I think its going to take a huge amount of effort to do this. It's not easy putting together a daily programme. And the team is working incredibly hard. It's a small team, it's not huge and we're all incredibly dedicated. [Amanpour] is different from being in the field – this takes a huge amount of effort and dedication and team work.''

''I must say that I've had the good opportunity of travelling to South Africa several times, I have been there many times for work and holiday, I have incredible colleagues throughout South Africa, and photographers and shared my experiences with correspondents all over the globe and they're all committed to real news. We want to be the place where real news cannot hide. And that will continue to be my commitment.''

Check back all week this week, as I share some more of what Christiane had to say in the runup to the debut of Amanpour on Monday, 21 September at 21:00 on CNN International (DStv 401).

BREAKING. CNN's Christiane Amanpour set to take global NEWS to a whole new level

You're reading it here first. I just spoke to Christiane Amanpour in New York.

The world's foremost TV journalist of our age, is taking television news to a whole new level with her own brand-new show, simply entitled Amanpour. When I first got word of this a few months ago, I just knew it would be GREAT!

Amanpour starts on CNN International (DStv 401) on Monday, 21 September at 21:00. It will air every weekday, Monday to Friday and will surely be appointment television.

No other journalist in the world brings MORE STREET CRED, MORE TRUST, MORE DOGGED DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE and AUTHENTICITY to global television news than Christiane Amanpour.

The daily half hour Amanpour will be a global show, done from New York, beamed around the world by satellite with THE newsmakers, THE world leaders, THE decision makers on a global level all taking to her.

News junkies, get ready for ''a new global conversation'' that I can't wait to start watching:

Each Amanpour show will focus on a single topic, often news driven, often provocative, bringing to bear Christiane's vast journalistic experience and depth honed from more than 25 years of reporting from around the world - often from the dangerous hotspots, often the most hard to reach places, often getting there first and getting all the fact (and correctly so!) before any of the rest.

Check back here all of next week as I will reveal teasers and outtakes of what she told me, every day for the whole of next week leading up to Monday, 21 September at 21:00 when her first show starts!

BREAKING. CNN International's brand new prime time line-up

You're reading it here first. CNN International (DStv 401) has a great new primetime schedule for news junkies (like me). TWO BRAND NEW SHOWS are also set to start soon, World One and Amanpour - which I'll tell you about tomorrow.

But back to the schedule and I'll start with the show I personally watch and like the most:



International Desk
Presenter: Hala Gorani
Why it's cool: Hala is funny. She also doesn't really go with a script. The show is pacey, it's TRULY interactive and the hourly show every day immerses you in the news. She makes jokes, she covers really interesting stuff. Hala also has her own blog entitled Today at the IDesk which you can find here: www.cnn.com/idesk
Catch it: Weekdays, 18:00



Quest Means Business
Presenter: Richard Quest
Why it's cool: He visited South Africa earlier this year but MultiChoice and DStv didn't tell me about it, didn't invite me and didn't want me to talk to him. He had some lovely and choice words for SAA though while he visited to do some stories about South Africa's preparations for next year's World Cup Soccer. The tad eccentric Richard breaks down the facts and figures of the business world into easy to understand stories.
Catch it: Weekdays, 20:00



Connect the World with Becky Anderson
Presenter: Becky Anderson
Why it's cool: It's kinda ''connect the dots'' but on a global scale. With the news. Becky takes seemingly unrelated global stories and explores how and event or some news thing has an impact on something seemingly unrelated, yet connected. Very interesting.
Catch it: Weekdays, 22:00