FOX Networks Group Africa loses its top boss as Gary Alfonso exits as its Africa general manager to pursue new opportunities.

FOX Africa's business in South Africa and across the rest of Africa is losing its top boss on the continent, with Gary Alfonso who is exiting as general manager for the FOX Networks Group Africa.

Gary Alfonso has been with FNG Africa as it's top executive for a year and 7 months.

The highly respected Gary Alfonso replaced two predecessors as the top FOX executive on the continent who lasted only 5 months and 4 months in the position respectively.

He has now resigned to pursue other business interests.

Gary Alfonso was appointed to head up FOX Networks Group's expansion into sub-Saharan Africa in mid-2016 and says his decision to resign is due to new opportunities.

"When I joined Fox Networks Group in Africa the immediate challenge was to ensure the company kept building its solid reputation as a global leader in entertainment, factual and sports content for pay TV audiences across the continent," says Gary Alfonso.

"I feel that was achieved successfully and it allowed the FNG team and I the opportunity to rapidly expand into the strategic business growth areas of live sports and content production."

"I'm proud to have been part of the teams that achieved the incredible launch and execution of the first-ever fully produced West Africa Cup of 16 Nations tournament in Ghana in September last year. We have also hosted live WBA-endorsed Africa Boxing tournaments in cities across Africa."

Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of FOX Networks Group Europe and Africa, says "Gary Alfonso is a veteran of the broadcasting industry with more than 30 years as a television and content professional. Previous experience includes CNBC Africa, Business Day TV, Media General in Ghana and the SABC. He’s not disclosed any immediate plans, but says he remains a champion and campaigner for better quality content for all audiences in Africa".

FNG Africa hasn't yet announced a replacement.

FOX Upfront 2017: IN PICTURES - FOX Networks Group Africa showcases FOX, FOX Life, Nat Geo and Nat Geo WILD.

On Thursday FOX Networks Group Africa held its FOX Upfront 2017 at Hyde Park Corner's The Park House of Events on 7 in Johannesburg, South Africa to unveil, and to talk about, its upcoming shows and programming strategies to advertisers and the media.

Subtitled "Imaginarium", FOX Networks Group Africa's head of advertising and research, Baleseng Dlamini, welcomed guests.

FNG Africa executives Gary Alfonso, Levern Engel, Khosi Khanyile and Tracey Gilchrist went through the upcoming shows and talked programming on the National Geographic (DStv 181/ StarSat 220), Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182 / StarSat 221), FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) and FOX Life (DStv 126 / StarSat 133) channels.

Gary Alfonso touched on the FOX Sports channels only carried on StarSat in South Africa and how viewership and content on these sports channels seen across Africa are growing, and Levern Engel made mention of the very good baby and toddler TV channel BabyTV, also only carried on StarSat.

Here is how it looked inside the event:

FOX on DStv and StarSat pulls shocking 4th episode of 24: Legacy from its schedule after using real-life Westgate Mall terror attack footage as entertainment.

FOX has pulled all scheduled repeats of the 4th episode of the shocking 24: Legacy that included footage of the horrific real-life Westgate Mall terrorism attack for terror-tainment purposes.

On Friday afternoon FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131), seen in South Africa and across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and on China's StarTimes South Africa and On Digital Media's StarSat, rushed to scrub its schedule of the controversial 4th episode of the new 24: Legacy that used inserted real CCTV camera footage of terrorists attacking and killing people in Kenya's Westgate Mall.

24: Legacy, produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and Teakwood Lane Productions for FOX, used the Westgate terror attack as a fictional terrorism attack elsewhere in Africa for the episode entitled "3:00 PM – 4:00 PM".

In the Westgate terror attack in 2013 in Nairobi 67 people were killed and 175 people wounded.

Kenyan and African viewers immediately noticed the 10 seconds of included screen time in the drama, and reacted with shock and horror that the FOX show would use actual terrorism footage for an entertainment drama and then "redress" it for another fictional terror attack.

"This is the footage from Al-Jegrad market in Alexandria Egypt three years ago. The attack was planned and executed by Bin Khalid and his men," a character says while 24: Legacy showed the Westgate Mall attack in the latest episode that left African audiences shocked and angry.

FOX has now pulled the insensitive 4th episode of 24: Legacy deemed highly disrespectful to Kenya and the families of everyone who lost people in the real terrorism attack from all its Sunday and Monday's repeat slots for African and international viewers.

So far there's been no public statement from the FOX Networks Group and FOX Networks Group Africa general manager Gary Alfonso responsible for FOX and the set of Fox channels and content distributed by FNG Africa in South Africa and across Africa.

In a statement from the 24: Legacy executive producers, Evan Katz and Manny Coto says: "In episode 4 of 24: Legacy we regretfully included news footage of an attack in Nairobi. It will be removed from all future broadcasts and versions of the show. We apologize for any pain caused to the victims and their families and are deeply sorry."

The Kenya Film Classification Board in a statement calls FOX and 24: Legacy's use of the real-life footage "repulsive, insensitive and a reckless piece of art that heartlessly evokes the painful memories of the tragic terror attack".

"It flies in the face of basic considerations of human dignity, in total disregard of the feelings of the victims and their families. It is not only an inaccurate and false narrative of the Westgate terror attack, but also a callous piece of entertainment that demeans Africans and Kenyans in particular."

"We are disturbed that 24: Legacy chose to demean and indeed invade into the grief and painful emotions of the tragic Westgate attack. The board condemns in the strongest terms possible this irresponsible piece of entertainment and promises to get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible".

On social media the topic started trending under #SomeoneTellFox.

I'm imagining what would happen if someone used 9/11 footage for entertainment just like @FOXTV has with #WestGate attack #SomeoneTellFox

— Gerald Cheruiyot (@Cheruiyot931) February 23, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox they ought have spent money & reenact the scenes.Using Westgate horror for entertainment purposes was just soo sad @FOXTV

— Keith (@Kachumbarikiasi) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox That it's insensitive to use that clip, Why not the '93 twin towers bombing?

— Sarah Richard (@SarahRi85339067) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox your actions are genuinely disgusting. The fact that shit like this was allowed to air is an insult to in human decency

— Theodore Ouya (@the_ouya) February 24, 2017

They thought we'd be too preoccupied with hunting and gathering to notice that clip is from Westgate. #SomeoneTellFox https://t.co/gCnGPfJvxx

— MUREGA (@TsarNjoroge) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox how would they feel if we used their school shootings footage in our shows.

— joyce kiki (@kuvisko) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox .....This is the only fox we know...Using our tragedy for your legacy is an all time low! pic.twitter.com/KC09Xw9eYA

— ლ◉◞Mseto ◉ლ (@Kiptoo_Patricks) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox we no longer live in caves. We have TVs n know Kiefer Sutherland aka Jack Bauer could not have allowed such sh*t to happen!

— Geoffrey Mwangi (@geffmwangih) February 24, 2017

#SomeoneTellFox so Alexandria market have an elephant as their trade mark? I am black, I have eyes that see and a brain that works @FOXTV

— October The 28th (@Derny_el) February 24, 2017

TOLDJA! Another FOX channel is suddenly chopped and changed as FOX Crime flips to FOX Life at short notice; changes on DStv with no word about StarSat.

The horribly bad communication from FOX Networks Group, MultiChoice, and On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa, continues with ongoing confusion, lack of clarifty and non-answers about the FOX Crime channel that is suddenly going to change to FOX Life, with FX that's getting dumped in the process as well.

As TV with Thinus already reported previously and again earlier this month, FOX Crime is get culled and replaced by FOX Life.

The very sad part is this: the shockingly bad communication from FOX Networks Group in Africa to properly and fully explain what is going on and why.

Then there's also the "collusion" by FOX Networks Group in Africa, MultiChoice and ODM and StarTimes Media SA to not explain, and explain clearly and far in advance enough to paying subscribers to their services, what exactly is happening - and how their customers will be impacted.

It's very bad.

As it stands now, new boss Gary Alfonso, general manager for FOX Networks Group Africa, has been terrible in not being fully forthcoming and properly explaining to FOX Crime and FX viewers what is happening here.

FOX Crime is getting yanked from MultiChoice's DStv on 28 September. That news isn't coming from MultiChoice itself but from the FOX News Group.

FOX Crime is getting pulled with less than a month's notice to DStv subscribers on channel 126.

There is absolutely no word about what is happening with FOX Crime for StarSat subscribers - but its basically a given that StarSat is losing FOX Crime too.

Not only that, but FX is also going to dark on StarSat - that is also not being told to StarSat subscribers and no mention of a date yet. Presumably FX will also go "poof" in half a month's time but FOX Networks Group isn't saying (yet).

Furthermore there's no explanation why exactly this is happening - because why should subscribers or the media deserve any actual real explanation as to why FOX Crime is suddenly being canned.

It's a take-it-or-leave-it situation that according to FOX Networks Group in Africa, MultiChoice and ODM and StarTimes Media SA apparently doesn't need a lot of explanation or transparency given the bad communication on this.

Imagine hearing two weeks before the time that your bank is changing and shutting down your cheque account, and will reopen it as a new product with a new look a few days later - without even telling you the details about it.

That is what FOX Networks Group, MultiChoice and StarSat are badly (non-) communicating to people who are actually paying for FOX Crime as a TV channel. In essence it's a "crime".

FOX Crime was added by MultiChoice to DStv from July 2013 and was added by StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media ()DM) to StarSat from November 2013 - it basically lasted for only three years.


Here is what is now known:

FOX Crime is shutting down on MultiChoice's DStv on 28 September on MultiChoice's DStv.

FOX Life will start in its place on 3 October, as I've reported previously, on channel 126. FOX Life will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Extra, DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers.

So far there's been zero comment from MultiChoice about this change to DStv. Will FOX Life be in high definition (HD)? We don't know.

So far, and after having been asked repeatedly, there's been no comment from StarSat about the loss of FOX Crime - who also hasn't said a word about the coming demise and shut down of FX.

So far there is no official answer as to what is happening to FOX Crime on StarSat or the exact date FOX Crime on channel 132 and FX is being yanked away from StarSat subscribers.

What is happening to shows that people have been watching on FOX Crime? You'd think subscribers of the channel would be told that. I had to ask first, to get somewhat more information.

TV with Thinus in response to a media enquiry is told:
"All shows currently on FOX Crime will end naturally on the channel. Rogue is the only show that has already moved to FOX and season 3 premiered on FOX. There will however be some repeats of the FOX Crime procedurals on FOX during daytime".

Why is FOX Crime dumped and replaced?
"We are launching FOX Life to better service local markets and show our ambition in Africa by creating a production hub locally that will tap into the latest trends and ensure the brands stay relevant locally".

Of course that explains very little, since the FOX channel as the premium channel brand already exists and can cope with presumably whatever new local content is produced by a local production hub.

Why is FX suddenly also being shut down and when?
No official answer yet. FOX Crime and FX are both being dumped and replaced with one channel, FOX Life.


SAngry sbscribers have already started saying they're angry and upset and can't understand why FOX Crime and FOX Life on DStv and StarSat can't both be given to them.

"Why replacing instead of adding?" asks John Johnson.

"No, you must add to FOX Crime. We will boycott you if you replace FOX Crime with FOX Life. Add [it] next to FOX Crime, we pleading. After all, we pay. We have a say. You can't take off FOX Crime," says Norman Lambert.

"FOX Crime I enjoyed," says Maruska Honiball. "Why take it away???"

"FOX Crime was good," says Myburgh Dewald.

And Kedibone Mametja sums up what a lot of people are thinking about the upcoming dumping of FOX Crime and replacement with FOX Life: "Why replace and not add?" 

FOX Crime on StarSat changing to FOX Life on 3 October; confusion over whether FOX Crime is continuing on DStv or also changing to FOX Life on that platform.

The change of the FOX Crime (StarSat 132 / DStv 126) channel that was supposed to happen from the beginning of September and that was supposed to switch to the FOX Life channel from September has been pushed back to 3 October - but the pay-TV operators and the FOX Networks Group Africa have been bad at explaining and communicating to their subscribers and the media what is happening.

While the FOX Networks Group in Africa, now managed by Gary Alfonso, hasn't bothered to tell the media anything, at least this is now known: FOX Crime will now be replaced by FOX Life on 3 October.

The channel swop will now happen on 3 October after it has been delayed and pushed back by a month.

FOX Crime will now be replaced by FOX Life on 3 October on On Digital Media's (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat.

What is unclear is whether FOX Crime will remain on MultiChoice's DStv from October and if the FOX Crime channel on DStv will also be changing to FOX Life from 3 October for that pay-TV operator.

No official channel logo for FOX Life has been issued and no monthly channel schedule for October has been provided to media yet - nor what the channel is about, programming highlights or an explanation as to what will happen to shows that viewers have been watching currently and might not have completed their run by the time FOX Crime gets cut.

TVwithThinus asked the FOX Networks Group Africa, ODM and StarSat, and MultiChoice yet again today (Friday) - after asking the channel provider and the pay-TV operators a month ago (when they were less than forthcoming) - what is happening.

When there's responses, this report will update with those responses.

So far, FOX representatives on Friday told me they're not in a position to give any details at the moment.

What is clear, is that the FOX Networks Group in Africa has and is really not managing the news and media publicity about the upcoming switch of the FOX Crime channel to FOX Life well at all.

Pay-TV subscribers in South Africa are paying real money for a service which they are not properly being informed about and that is changing in a month's time. With a month to go, they're not being told why it is happening and what those changes are.

In the absence of any information and explanations from the FOX Networks Group Africa and operators, viewers of FOX Crime are already negative about the looming removal of the channel and its replacement with FOX Life.

"Why replacing instead of adding?" asks John Johnson.

"No, you must add to FOX Crime. We will boycott you if you replace FOX Crime with FOX Life. Add [it] next to FOX Crime, we pleading. After all, we pay. We have a say. You can't take off FOX Crime," says Norman Lambert.

"FOX Crime I enjoyed," says Maruska Honiball. "Why take it away???"

"FOX Crime was good," says Myburgh Dewald, and Kedibone Mametja sums up what a lot of people are thinking about the upcoming dumping of FOX Crime and replacement with FOX Life: "Why replace and not add?"

BREAKING. Gary Alfonso the (3rd) new Africa boss for FOX Networks Group, appointed as general manager; Khosi Khanyile upped to marketing director.

Will it be third time lucky? Gary Alfonso has been appointed the new boss of FOX Africa's business in South Africa - FOX's 3rd boss in 3 years.

Both previous FOX bosses in South Africa, Hannelie Bekker and Ratna Siriah, respectively lasted only 5 months and 4 months and left without a word from FOX.

It means that Gary Alfonso, a former CNBC Africa (DStv 410) and BusinessDayTV (DStv 412) executive, will break the record if he manages to make it to January 2017 in his new position.

Gary Alfonso who has more than 3 decades of TV broadcasting experience, joins FOX from the Nigerian broadcaster Gotel Communications, where he was the chief operating officer (COO).

It was quite an embarrassment for FOX Africa and the FOX Networks Group (previously FOX International Channels until January 2016) in June when FOX and MultiChoice teamed up for an Empire and DStv media blitz for stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard to South Africa and had no local top executive.

Gobsmacked TV critics and media suddenly had to hear from Adam Theiler, the executive vice president for FOX Networks Group for Europe and Africa at the official Empire and DStv press conference who flew in for the occasion since Ratna Siriah dropped FOX after just 4 months and went back to Zee Entertainment.

Now, after a FOX Africa management vacuum of 5 months with no permanent head, Gary Alfonso is taking over as general manager of FOX Networks Group's restructured African business that includes the various FOX supplied TV channels and National Geographic Partners.

Gary Alfonso will report to Adam Theiler.

The FOX Networks Group runs channels like FOX, National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild on MultiChoice's DStv; FX, Nat Geo Gold, BabyTV and Fox Sports on StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat; and FOX Crime on both operators that's reportedly soon going to be replaced with the FOX Life channel.

FOX Networks Group has meanwhile promoted Nami Patel in London from vice president for business development in Europe and Africa, to chief financial officer (CFO) based in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile the FOX Networks Group's South African based marketing manager Khosi Khanyile has been promoted to director of sales and marketing.

"Our genre defining brands are market leaders in Africa, delivering year on year growth over the past three years," says Adam Theiler in a statement announcing the appointment of Gary Alfonso.

"Gary Alfonso's 29 years of leading industry experience will continue to drive our success, evolving our businesses to meet the changing media landscape as we bring the best in entertainment, factual and sports programming to audiences across the continent".

In the statement Gary Alfonso says: "Working with the highly talented team in the FNG Africa office, I look forward to helping the business increase its regional footprint, in a challenging and dynamic media environment".

BREAKING. CNBC Africa says Gary Alfonso left 'to pursue his own interests'.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410) has now sent me a press release after I asked what is going on regarding Gary Alfonso who is out as the latest stunning departure from the business TV channel.

According to Rakesh Wahi, the founder and vice chairperson of ABN360 which runs CNBC Africa, Gary Alfonso has ''decided to pursue his own interest''. Gary Alfonso was the group managing director for CNBC Africa's operations on the continent, notably spearheading the opening of the group's new news bureaus.

 According to the company's statement ''Gary Alfonso has been an integral part of the roll-out of CNBC Africa within the ABN360 group over the past five years and we wish him the best in his new ventures.''

I've asked, but CNBC Africa is not saying who is replacing Gary Alfonso. As I've already noted, Gary Alfonso started at CNBC Africa in 2007 as the head of programming. He closes the CNBC Africa door behind him after Lerato Mbele also decided to abruptly leave CNBC Africa in February.

BREAKING. Gary Alfonso is gone as the bleeding CBNC Africa business channel loses yet another top level executive and big name.

The exit of names are continuing at the bleeding CNBC Africa (DStv 410) business channel that's had a tumultous time for at least the past two years - next out the door is Gary Alfonso who was the group's managing director for its Africa operations.

No word on where Gary Alfonso is going, or even as much as a word to me on this from CNBC Africa themselves, and no word on who's taking over.

Gary Alfonso was at CNBC Africa for 5 years and started in 2007 as the head of programming which launched the business channel which has since lost its luster. He became CEO in January 2009 and managing director in 2009 after which he became managing director for the channel's African expansion plans.

Gary Alfonso is the second high level CNBC Africa name suddenly gone from the business channel just this year.

The once hot on-air talent Lerato Mbele had nothing nice to say about CNBC Africa when she abruptly left in February, saying she actually had doubts when she joined CNBC Africa who poached her from the SABC in 2007.

CNBC Africa opens its 7th news bureau in Africa as the business TV channel expands into West Africa with an office in Libreville in Gabon.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410) has opened its 7th news bureau in West-Africa in Libreville in Gabon as the business TV channel gets ready to open further news bureaus this year in Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana and Ghana.

CNBC Africa's news bureau in Gabon which permits a live satellite uplink is the 6th news bureau outside of South Africa for CNBC Africa which wants a news presence and bureaux in more than 20 African countries by 2014.

''The primary purpose of CNBC Africa’s new bureaus in these new territories in the next two years will be to extract crucial business and investment news from some of Africa's most vibrant economies,'' says Gary Alfonso, CNBC Africa's managing director. ''The new bureaus will help us diversify content as we push towards our goal of the total coverage of the African continent's business.''

''Gabon is presently changing its game and repositioning itself as a major economic player in the continent,'' says Frederic Van de Vyver, CNBC Africa's head of West Africa. ''There is no doubt we will get very exciting business content from Libreville and the rest of the country''.

CNBC Africa started receiving Gabon news packages and did live satellite news uplinks since Monday.

BREAKING. CNBC Africa looking at retrenching staff; says downsizing won't affect the hours of live programming.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410) will possibly be retrenching staff at its Johannesburg office but the local business channel tells me it will not impact its schedule, amount of live, original content or operations.

Gary Alfonso, managing director of Africa Business News says in response to a media enquiry that CNBC Africa plans to ''restructure its staffing levels and to streamline its business''. ''As in any start-up, our business has grown significantly over the last 4 years. Operational inefficiencies resulting from an excess in staffing have arisen in a number of areas,'' he says and adds that ''the restructuring which takes place, if any, will impact on only a few people in our Johannesburg office.''

''Our operations and the programming in Johannesburg remain unaffected and we will continue to broadcast 8 hours of live content from our Johannesburg studio,'' he says. The possible dowsizing of CNBC Africa's staff in South Africa comes after a turbulent year for the business channel that was revealed to have received millions of rands from the Gauteng Film Commission, a contract that has since been terminated and the income of which was a big part of the channel's annual revenue stream. CNBC Africa has told me that it plans to open a number of new bureaus across Southern Africa this year, hopefully in Mosambique, Zambia as possibly in Zimbabwe.

ALSO READ: CNBC Africa plans to open bureaus in 2011 in Mosambique, Zambia and possibly Zimbabwe.

BREAKING. CNBC Africa plans to open new bureaus in Mozambique, Zambia and possibly Zimbabwe this year.

The business channel CNBC Africa (DStv 410) plans to launch new bureaus in Mozambique, Zambia and possibly Zimbabwe this year says Gary Alfonso, managing director of Africa Business News, adding that ''more news will follow on this growth as we build the network''.

''CNBC Africa remains committed to news on African economic and financial development and upholds its values of being fast, actionable and accurate,'' he says.

CNBC Africa's expansion on the continent would mean even more specific market, economic and general business coverage from these countries.

As CNBC Africa turns three, the biz channel plans to open three further news bureaus across Africa over the next two years.

Today, a day after their 3rd birthday yesterday (and you would expect better from a business channel who deal in the latest business news themselves), CNBC Africa (DStv 410) sees it fit to issue a press release.

''CNBC Africa is currently planning to launch at least 3 new bureaus in the next two years,'' says the busines channel.
"The channel is probably the only media player on the continent currently providing an editorially independent voice for Africa, from Africa, to the international business and investment market for between 8 to 10 hours every day,'' says Gary Alfonso, CNBC Africa's managing director.

PERSPECTIVE. CNBC Africa: Silence about its massive funding scandal tarnishing its reputation even further.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410) tells me that the business TV channel - now rocket by an ever-growing funding scandal, a severely dented public image as broadcaster of business news, a tarnished reputation, cagey responses to the media and an expanding credibility problem - ''has maintained editorial independence''.

That's after the growing scandal that CNBC Africa pocketed government money in ''advertising agreements'' and sponsorships worth millions of dollars from The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) and Wesgro for TV shows.

CNBC Africa has so far had no response, or lukewarm and very terse, almost one-liner comments on the growing revelations of funding improprieties and alleged sponsorship conduct unbecoming of a business TV channel such as CNBC Africa. There's a massive amount of irony that CNBC Africa is slamming shut and refusing to discuss or talk about the issue - which is something that CNBC Africa, as well as it's American counterpart CNBC, would never accept from the business, companies and business community it covers.

CNBC Africa chose not to answer any of the specific questions that I've put to CNBC Africa's chief operating officer, Gary Alfonso and refused to respond specifically to questions on whether money received from Wesgro and the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) influenced editorial decisions regarding coverage and the type of TV coverage on CNBC Africa.

CNBC Africa also chose not to answer on whether CNBC Africa told editorial staff not to cover certain stories because of sponsorships, and didn't want to answer on whether CNBC Africa sees any conflict or undue influence arising out of receiving money from government or parastatal agencies. Does CNBC Africa still have an annual advertising shortfall, and how would CNBC Africa describe its current financial and advertising revenue situation? CNBC Africa isn't answering - probably hoping and wishing that all of this would just go away.

''CNBC Africa reiterates its position that at all times the channel has maintained editorial independence and control in relation to all content broadcast,'' is the only ''answer'' CNBC Africa has sent me in response to my specific questions. ''It is the channel's policy that no commercial agreement prevents CNBC Africa from maintaining editorial independence''.

CNBC Africa is seriously making things worse by not discussing the issue, not saying how it's possibly looking or relooking at the issue of the TV channel's funding and advertising model and how it's going to (try and) restore its credibility which is now in serious question as a business news TV channel.