e.tv dumps The Morning Show after 7 years as it backs out of original production for the timeslot and replaces it with simulcast of eNCA's The South African Morning

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv has dumped its low-rated breakfast show The Morning Show after seven years and is replacing it from today with eNCA's The South African Morning between 06:00 and 08:30 to save money.

eMedia cancelled its long-running Sunrise in mid-2018 and replaced it with The Morning Show - not to be confused with the American drama series The Morning Show on Apple TV+ set behind-the-scenes of a breakfast show.

The Morning Show, produced for e.tv by Cheeky Media, went through several iterations and multiple on-air changes over the past seven years

It's viewership struggled against SABC2's Morning Live, SABC3's Expresso, and several other cheaply done live morning shows across several of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV channels.

The Morning Show was cancelled with Lee-Roy Wright, Carla McKenzie, Kgosi Rankhumise, Bolele Polisa and Brighton Mhlongo as the last set of presenters.

Neither e.tv nor eNCA have issued any press release to the media about either the cancellation of The Morning Show on e.tv or the simulcast of The South African Morning on e.tv from September. 

Two years ago eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv courted controversy when it decided to drop producing an original morning show for its pay-TV news channel and to simulcast The Morning Show on both e.tv and eNCA.

It meant that DStv pay-TV audiences who pay for television and by implication a better product, suddenly got free-to-air content on a pay-TV channel, that they already got access to anyway.

eNCA and e.tv dropped the bad plan and returned The South African Morning to the eNCA schedule after just four days and kept The Morning Show on e.tv.

Now eMedia is doing the reverse and will be using an eNCA programming strand to fill a timeslot on e.tv's schedule that it no longer wants to do original content for. 

It will now work the other way around: Content that DStv subscribers are paying for to see, will now be made available for two and a half hours for free-to-air viewers on e.tv - in other words, original TV content produced for a pay-TV audience will be shown for free on a terrestrial free-to-air TV channel.

The South African Morning that also constantly goes through presenter line-up changes now has Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga as the anchors. eNCA hasn't said or explained anything to the media about the latest simulcast plan.

eMedia Holdings in its integrated report for 2025 alluded to the coming change when Khalik Sheriff, CEO, said about eNCA that "In the near future, The South African Morning, the vibrant show aired on eNCA every morning at 06:00, will also be simulcast on e.tv".

eNCA shifts Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to co-anchor The South African Morning timeslot.

by Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel once again did a line-up change on Monday this week with Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga replacing Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni as the hosts of eNCA's The South African Morning timeslot.

Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga are now anchoring The South African Morning on eNCA between 06:00 and 09:00 on weekdays, with Gareth Edwards moved to and now anchoring the 12:00 to 15:00 timeslot.

In response to a media query, eNCA tells TVwithThinus that "eNCA has made some major changes to the morning news show, which was previously anchored by Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni".

Dan Moyane says "It's a privilege for me to be back again in morning news. In a fast-paced world of news, I am excited to have the opportunity to deliver fresh news content every weekday morning".

Masego Rahlaga says "I'm truly humbled by this opportunity to work with Bra Dan bringing news and a bit of fun to our viewers every morning. Thank you to the eNCA management for trusting me with such an important role".

About why eNCA once again changed its timeslot anchor line-up and moved Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to its morning slot, Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, says "Many viewers have been asking us as a channel, to create a combo between Masego and Dan".

"When they have appeared on screen together for minor projects, their energy has been unmatched.  And now, when the people spoke, we listened and acted".

Here's is how eNCA's anchor line-up looks during the day on the TV news channel looks now:

In transition, TV news channel eNCA promises a personalised news presentation experience with its latest schedule revamp, including Uveka Rangappa anchoring premium prime time.

Facing added competition in the local TV news channel field, eNCA (DStv 403) will today announce a revamped schedule that will come into effect from Monday 29 July - together with a new look - that promises a more personalised news presentation for viewers.

The latest eNCA schedule change will include some big anchor moves being implemented just a year after the channel's last schedule change, including moving morning maven Uveka Rangappa to the evening as eNCA's new prime time star.

With added competition coming from Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) that has joined SABC News (DStv 404) as the triptych of TV news channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, the eMedia Investments' news channel is changing its schedule a year after the 10-year old channel revamped its offering in July 2018.

eNCA will be moving Uveka Rangappa from the mornings to its most valuable prime time berth as part of the channel's most dramatic schedule shake-up as it does away with NewsNight after a decade and the timeslot getting rebranded as South Africa Tonight.

eNCA will also become the first South African TV news channel to rebrand various daypart programming blocks to new names and now linked to anchor name brands - similar to talk radio and what the trend has been in American TV news the past few years.

A physical relocation to a new Johannesburg news headquarters from the current office and studio complex in Hyde Park is being planned as well but the transition to the new news broadcasting hub won't happen in conjunction with the roll-out of the new eNCA schedule coming this Monday.

The new eNCA schedule will however be accompanied by a new look.

From 29 July Morning News Today on eNCA between 06:00 and 09:00 with Dan Moyane and Uveka Uveka Rangappa will be broken up into three different dayparts that will have a subtle tempo difference as the day moves along.

The eNCA live broadcast day will now start with First Take with Xoli Mngambi between 06:00 and 07:00, adding Jane Dutton whose prime time show was axed last month joining Xoli Mngambi from 7:00 to 8:00, and Jane Dutton anchoring solo between 8:00 to 09:00.

First Take with Xoli Mngambi will be a fast-paced hourlong show bringing viewers up to speed with overnight news and looking ahead to the day's expected news events.

South African Morning with Xoli Mngambi and Jane Dutton will look at the day's top stories and include some interviews and live crossings, while The Jane Dutton Hour at 8:00 will blend hard news and lifestyle interviews with Jane on occasion anchoring from the field.

eNCA is taking its cue from American morning shows, notably NBC's multi-hour Today Show, that starts off giving viewers the news during the early hours and transitioning to a softer news style blend including more interviews and talk as the day transitions into mid-morning.

eNCA Now between 09:00 and 13:00 is getting rebranded as Today with Dan Moyane between 09:00 and 11:00 with the morning anchor who will now present on his own and from a bit later than his usual extremely early rise. This timeslot will include live crossings to news events, analysis and interviews.


The rundown on eNCA afternoons
The Rundown will be on eNCA between 11:00 and 13:00, anchored by Michelle Craig, with eNCA Lunchtime between 13:00 and 14:00 becoming Live at Lunchtime anchored by eNCA editor-in-chief, Jeremy Maggs.

This daypart will be an "express mid-point daily update, including a dedicated business segment".

eNCA Now that ran between 14:00 and 17:00 is revamped as Upfront with Marcelle Gordon between 14:00 to 16:00, followed by Newshour anchored by Faith Mangope between 16:00 and 17:00.

Shahan Ramkissoon stays put at 17:00 but eNCA Live at Five is rebranded as The Lead with Shahan Ramkissoon where the anchor will do a consolidated and rapid-fire news bulletin.


eNCA's new news at night
It's the end of NewsNight at 18:00 with the biggest change on the eNCA schedule being Uveka Rangappa's day-night change to become the channel's new premium prime time anchor of South Africa Tonight between 18:00 and 20:00.

Uveka Rangappa will now duke it out against her former eNCA colleagues, now ratings rivals, during the exact same timeslot with Cathy Mohlahlana anchoring Newz@Prime on Newzroom Afrika, and Francis Herd anchoring Full View on SABC News.

The move also places a trio of women across all three local South African TV news channels at the forefront of delivering prime time television news in the country.

South Africa Tonight will include high-profile interviews and perspective on the day's big news events.

eNCA Now at 20:00 is rebranded as eNCA Nightline anchored by Vuyo Mvoko. This daypart will recap the day's news and include some panel discussions and longer interviews after most of the day's news is now known.

"The changes come after extensive audience research," says Jeremy Maggs, eNCA editor-in-chief. 

"We are matching our talented line-up to key hours in the day. This, accompanied by a new station look will give our audience the fast-paced product they have become accustomed to, entrenching our position as the country's most-watched news channel."

eNCA updates its on-air look with a rebuild studio and video wall, adjusted timeslots and a Jane Dutton talk show.

On Monday 16 July eNCA (DStv 403), that turned 10 years old last month, is redoing its on-air look with a rebuilt Hyde Park studio that includes touch screens and a big video wall, as well as reducing the number of its on-air blocks including folding the afternoon slot News Day into a bigger midday slot rebranded as eNCA Now, and a prime time talk show for Jane Dutton.

From Monday Morning News between 06:00 and 09:00 becomes Morning News Today anchored by Dan Moyane and Uveka Rangappa.

Morning News Today on weekdays will look at overnight news stories and provides an overview of the day that lies ahead. The timeslot will also take a look at the lighter side of life in the country with human interest and lifestyle features.

The Lead between 09:00 and 13:00, News Day between 13:00 and 14:00 and Afternoon News between 16:00 and 18:00 all fall away and are folded into the more generic eNCA Now block from 09:00 to 17:00 with rolling news coverage.

eNCA Now will be anchored by by Xoli Mngambi, Jeremy Maggs, Michelle Craig and Thulasizwe Simelane throughout the day. Devan Murugan will be doing business news coverage.

News Night that used to start at 18:00 will now start an hour earlier at 17:00 from Monday anchored by Vuyo Mvoko and Cathy Mohahlana and go until 20:00 instead of 21:00.

News Night will continue to cover the day's big news stories.

At 20:00 on eNCA there's the introduction of Tonight with Jane Dutton, a new weekday talk show that eNCA calls its "flagship daily talk show" that will feature interviews various guests and newsmakers.

Jane Dutton returns to South Africa and e.tv from Al Jazeera.

The half hour Moneyline on eNCA falls away to make space for the hour long News Hour at 22:00 on weekdays, anchored by Shahan Ramkissoon and Siki Mgabadeli.

News Hour will take a look at the day's top news and business stories and will feature business reports as well as in-depth coverage of the day's news events.

Late Edition follows at 23:00, that eNCA calls " comprehensive, relaxed and conversational review of the day's news and a first look at the next day's action".

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, says the redone studio where news anchors will be able to move around more and the big video wall will make eNCA's "news delivery more contemporary, more interactive and faster moving".

She says that eNCA will continue to do "quality news".

"Audiences today have far more choice in a fragmenting television environment. My promise to the eNCA community is that despite the changing nature of news consumption, we will continue to rely on what has made us successful:  quality news that reflects the complexity of South African society, always mindful that we are a voice for ordinary people and their daily struggles," says Mapi Mhlangu.

BREAKING. ANN7, eNCA and SABC News all fake claim Jacob Zuma exclusive interviews - which means all 3 TV news channels are lying.

ANN7 (DStv 405), eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) all had the shocking audacity to individually fake claim their own "exclusive interview" with South African president Jacob Zuma.

The only problem is of course that Jacob Zuma appeared on ANN7, eNCA and SABC News as part of his PR press blitz.

"Exclusive" means to the exclusion of everything and everyone else - which means neither ANN7, eNCA or SABC News has a Jacob Zuma exclusive.

If a news channel claims a Jacob Zuma exclusive interview, it means Jacob Zuma is not appearing on TV news on any other channel in terms of giving an interview - and that you have an agreement or understanding that your interview subject is not sitting for multiple interviews on the same day, round robin style with different news outlets.

Jacob Zuma took turns to speak to and to give interviews to ANN7's Hajra Omarjee, to eNCA's Dan Moyane, and to SABC News' Vuyo Mvuko.

It means that ANN7, eNCA and SABC News as South African 24-hours TV news channels are all lying to their viewers, come across as opportunistic, and are getting shown up for making a false "exclusive" claim which is unintentionally hilarious.

eNCA on-air changes as Dan Moyane, Gareth Edwards, Eleni Giokos and Nikiwe Bikitsha are on the move.

Viewers of the eNCA (DStv 403), South Africa's only independent 24-hour TV news channel continues to see an on-air sea change of faces since last month which is continuing in July and will continue into August as familiar faces left and continue to leave the channel and new faces are added.

ALSO READ: The eNCA's exodus of on-air staff continues as Macfarlane Moleli and Lance Witten leave, following Rashaan Ramkissoon out the door.

While the eNCA is keeping its brilliant primetime pairing of Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs intact on the channel's flagship nightly newscast News Night, a swirl of changes has been happening.

Dan Moyane joined the eNCA on-air from the beginning of this month who've previously worked for eNews. He now anchors with Ayanda Allie-Paine from 06:00 to 09:00 on weekdays on the eNCA.

Nikiwe Bikitsha has been seen back on the air, reporting for the channel on Nelson Mandela after her year-long study break. The eNCA has not yet said where Nikiwe Bikitsha will be used in future.

Dan Moyane's addition is a potential interesting eNCA conflict of interest: the eNCA says Dan Moyane will "continue to play a role in the corporate sector" where he is the corporate affairs executive of MMI Holdings Limited.

It's not clear why the eNCA would put someone on as an anchor who is also a "spin doctor" of sorts. Are news anchor not supposed to be impartial and unbiased?

Apparently not at the eNCA - the now gone Macfarlane Moleli blatantly made know his own political inclinations live on the eNCA in September last year

Patrick Conroy, the group head of news at the eNCA says "Dan Moyane is one of the most experienced broadcasters in South Africa having worked for the BBC, 702 and eNews previously."

Patrick Conroy says "we will confirm Nikiwe Bikitsha's role in due course. She very kindly returned early from the United States to assist with our coverage of former president Nelson Mandela. We still have a few things to finalise but we are thrilled to have her back too."

Other major eNCA on-air changes involve Gareth Edwards moving from the morning slot to anchor the news on the eNCA now from 9:00 to 13:00.

Leaving the eNCA on-air team from August is the other major jewel in the crown of the news channel: the excellent Eleni Giokos who is going on holiday to Greece in August a year after she joined the eNCA from CNBC Africa (DStv 410).

Eleni Giokos won't be gone permanently, but she might not be back in the mornings on the eNCA when she returns where her addition to the channel with stellar coverage, intelligent conversation and informed and off-the-cuff background information she has at the tip of her fingers make for clever television.

"Eleni Giokos has now been offered a full-time contract with the eNCA and will return to play a more prominent role within the business," says Patrick Conroy.

"We are beefing up, not making wholesale changes. Dan Moyane's return to the eNCA signals our intention to add gravitas to key areas of our business," says Patrick Conroy.

"We are in discussion with a number of senior TV news people and look forward to announcing more additions to our team in the next few months," says Patrick Conroy.