e.tv dumps news at 8pm in 2026 schedule shake-up as it moves cancelled Scandal! into its timeslot from 19 January

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv is getting rid of its well-rated weekday TV news bulletin, the News @ 8 with anchor Melanie Rice from 19 January 2026, without giving any explanation for this, which forms part of an e.tv primetime schedule shake-up that will see the remaining episodes of the cancelled Scandal! moved into its 20:00-timeslot.

The News @ 8 which has done quite well for e.tv for years in its 20:00 berth, is getting pulled from this timeslot from 19 January 2026, with e.tv moving its TV news bulletin that will likely be renamed, to 18:30.

Tshegofatso Kolotse, e.tv publicist, didn't respond with an explanation when e.tv was asked on Wednesday why the well-rated TV bulletin is being moved out of 20:00.

In announcing the primetime change, e.tv said in a general press release that it "represents a complete rethinking of how storytelling flows throughout the evening, aimed at enhancing prime-time TV for South African households".

It's unclear how e.tv wants to enhance prime-time for South African households by moving a cancelled local TV soap to 20:00 just months before its end, instead of doing a schedule change later in 2026 once Scandal!'s remaining episodes are over.

It also looks unlikely that e.tv will replace Scandal! with a new weekday soap, since eMedia in its annual financial year report noted that it was getting rid of one of its local telenovelas/soaps just before it announced the demise of the long-running Oche Media produced show.

According to e.tv, the schedule change is a "strategic revamp that reinforces e.tv's position as South Africa's leading free-to-air entertainment destination".

The latest e.tv schedule change comes less than a year after e.tv altered the channel's schedule in March this yearin March this year.

The Afrikaans telenovela Kelders van Geheime in its second season at 18:30 will now move to 19:00 from 19 January 2026.

House of Zwide which was at 19:00, moves to 19:30, and the cancelled Scandal! that is at 19:30, moves to 20:00. Isitha: The Enemy which was at 21:3,0 moves earlier to 20:30.

Smoke & Mirrors which is at 21:00, remains in its timeslot, followed by rebroadcasts of the old Gold Diggers at 22:00, Ashes to Ashes and Uzozisola.

Helga Palmer, eMedia Investments' group head of content development and strategy, in a prepared quote, says "This move marks an exciting evolution for our prime-time block".

"We've lined up our biggest, boldest shows to create a seamless viewing experience that keeps audiences engaged from early evening into late night. Our viewers value strong, meaningful stories, and this new schedule is designed to deliver exactly that."

MasterChef SA from Primedia Studios and Homebrew Films moves to e.tv for season 6 as entries open for a month

Thinus Ferreira

Primedia Studios and Homebrew Films are switching the cooking reality show MasterChef South Africa from the SABC to e.tv, with a 6th season that will air on the red-letter TV channel on Sunday evenings from sometime in early 2026.

Entries for season 6 of MasterChef SA open today until 16 October.

With a fully-functional competitors' kitchen sitting ready at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town, Primedia Studios and Homebrew Films are moving the cooking competition series to e.tv after a 5th season MasterChef SA and a second Celebrity MasterChef SA season that aired on the South African public broadcaster's SABC3.

The custom-built kitchen and pantry set at Atlantic Studios, crafted at a cost of millions of rand for the 5th season, will continue to be used for the 6th season of the localised Banijay format show on e.tv, with the new season, which will also be aired on eMedia's eReality and eExtra TV channels carried on its Openview service.

MasterChef SA will air on Sunday nights on e.tv at 18:00 from sometime early in 2026. The trio of judges will be announced soon. Filming of the new season is set to start towards the end of the year.

The jump of MasterChef SA to e.tv marks a unique, extremely rare and once-in-a-TV-lifetime  occurence for a South African television show.

With its airing on e.tv, MasterChef SA will have the almost singular distinction of being a TV show that has clinched the TV trifecta of having aired as an original local production on M-Net and MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service, the SABC, as well as e.tv - all three of South Africa's major TV broadcasters.

And as rare: Veteran publicist Lani Lombard who worked behind the show at M-Net and transitioned to Primedia Studios and worked on it for the SABC, will also be responsible for the media liaison of MasterChef SA when it's on e.tv - for a count of three out of three.

Another high scorer is TV executive Jan du Plessis, Primedia Studios president, who oversaw MasterChef SA during its M-Net iteration, steered it during its SABC run, and is also instrumental in the TV pressure pot finding a new home at e.tv.

Notably, the MasterChef SA brand will now have had TV audience exposure to the sought-after, smaller but highly coveted pay-TV audience in South Africa, the much broader public broadcaster audience, and now also the large, commercial free-to-air audience of e.tv.

Helga Palmer, e.tv group head of content and strategy, says "MasterChef is a tasty and spicy television stew infused with all the ingredients our audiences love – rollercoaster action, suspense, high drama, and unforgettable reality show moments".

"The South African adaptation, infused with the flavours of local cuisine, has been a winning recipe with a series of successful seasons, and e.tv is the perfect broadcaster for this exhilarating format."

Bongumusa Makhatini, Primedia Studios CEO, says "Collaborating with e.tv is an exciting step in bringing MasterChef SA to a broad, culturally diverse South African audience".

"We're thrilled to have secured a primetime slot on the country's biggest free-to-air independent broadcaster and its complementary channels, known for serving world-class entertainment to its multitude of viewers. And, we can't wait to meet all the contestants who'll whip up the new season's must-watch moments."

People interested will now be able to enter for the 6th season of MasterChef South Africa on e.tv on the website at masterchefsa.tv to complete the entry form. The closing date for entries is 16 October 2025 at 23:59.

People who want to enter MasterChef SA must be 18 years or older by November 2025, a South African citizen, and not currently be working as a professional chef, or have worked as a professional chef.

e.tv and eExtra shuffle primetime line-up as Kelders moves to Isiphetho's 18:30-timeslot from 7 April

by Thinus Ferreira

From Monday 7 April after the end of Isiphetho, e.tv is changing the channel's primetime line-up, as well as the programming line-up of eExtra, with the Afrikaans telenovela Kelders van Geheime moving to the plum timeslot of 18:30.

From this coming Monday the KFilms-produced Kelders van Geheime will move from 18:00 to 18:30, with its second season starting a month from now on Monday 5 May.

With the 18:30-gap left by Isiphetho, both the e.tv and eExtra line-ups are staggered half an hour later. Dubbed telenovela Annekan Die Swa Kry at 17:00 on e.tv and eExtra moves to 17:30, with Kelders van Geheime at 18:30.

On e.tv House of Zwide, produced by Bomb Productions and Videovision Entertainment, remains at 19:00, with Ochre Moving Pictures' Scandal! that remains at 19:00 and the e.tv News that remains at 20:00.

On eExtra (DStv 195 / Openview 105) the dubbed Gelukbringers moves from 18:30 to 19:00, Doodsondes moves from 19:30 to 20:00 and Op Dun Ys moves from 20:30 to 21:00.

The new e.tv primetime line-up will now look like this:

16:30 Gelukbringers (until now at 16:00)

17:35 Annekan Die Swa Kry (until now 17:00)

18:30 Kelders van Geheime

19:00 House of Zwide

19:30 Scandal!

20:00 e.tv News

20:30 The Kingdom - Ukhakayi

21:00 Smoke & Mirrors

21:30 Isitha: The Enemy

22:00 Gold Diggers

About the Kelders van Geheime timeslot change, Vuyelwa Booi, e.tv's head of local programming, says "We hope that this timeslot will be a better fit for lovers of Kelders as a lot of viewers have been asking for it a month after the show started airing in 2024".

"With Isiphetho coming to an end on Friday, 4 April it seems to be the best time for this change."

Helga Palmer, e.tv's head of content development and strategy, says "Kelders van Geheime is a hit with viewers and this timeslot change gives them a chance to settle in comfortably before the drama kicks off".

After denying it e.tv now confirms it has cancelled sex-filled telenovela The Black Door as Black Brain Productions spin out some characters to resurface in new show Isitha The Enemy.

by Thinus Ferreira

After denying it's happening e.tv has cancelled The Black Door after just a year on air, with the sex-filled telenovela from Black Brain Pictures axed and getting replaced by another telenovela from the same production company.

After e.tv and the producers said they plan to keep The Black Door on-air for multiple seasons shortly after the show's debut, the production has been axed although e.tv publicity a month ago still denied that it's happening.

The Black Door producers were quickly forced to course correct on e.tv orders after the show made its debut in April 2022 and had to tone down several of the sex-filled risque aspects of the show following negative reaction from viewers. 

The show however continued production, although questions were raised later in 2022 on whether The Black Door would get more seasons. 

On 6 April TVwithThinus asked e.tv whether The Black Door has been cancelled. e.tv publicist Siyabonga Mposula responded and said "the show continues but with a story that is far more family-accommodating".

A month later, on 4 May, e.tv publicist Karabo Nkabinde in a press release suddenly confirmed that The Black Door has been cancelled and is getting replaced by a "new primetime family-orientated" telenovela Isitha - The Enemy. 

Isitha - The Enemy will take a section of The Black Door's already established characters and create a new telenovela out of the Sokhulu family and the "struggles to keep their family together in the face of adversity as new challenges and new rivals come onto the scene".

"We are committed to bringing the best South African local content to our viewers and we have to remain receptive to their changing needs and preferences," says Helga Palmer, eMedia head of local programming about cancelling The Black Door and replacing it with Isitha - The Enemy.

"With this in mind, we are excited to usher in the spin-off series, Isitha – The Enemy.  This story proves to be like no other, with a big focus on family feuds, drama and intrigue, peppered with some comedic elements."

Mpumelelo Nhlapo, executive producer at Black Brain Pictures, in a prepared statement says "We strategically intended for The Black Door to run for one year".

"Our goal was to break new ground and to push the boundaries of South African television. The greater vision has always been to tell the story of the Sokhulu family as a multi-chapter series that allows us to explore different themes in dynamic and interesting ways."

Show creator Mandla N, creative director at Black Brain Pictures, says "We can't wait for viewers to see how this new chapter delves deeper into the world of the Sokhulus as we explore new characters, new conflicts, and new challenges that will test their strength and resilience".

According to e.tv, Isitha - The Enemy will "pick up from a royal homestead in eSwatini".

"Here, we find out what happened to Chuma Sokhulu who was presumed dead in The Black Door chapter of the Sokhulu story. It promises to be a gripping drama with captivating storylines and exciting performances. The stunning visuals coupled with unexpected twists and turns as the story unfolds, will take viewers on a thrill ride that will keep them on the edge of their seats".

The cast of Isitha - The Enemy will include Sipho Ndlovu, Khanyisani Khwesa and Dawn Thandeka with Thobani Nzuza reprising his role along with some other actors from The Black Door.

e.tv cancels Imbewu after 5 seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Grapevine Productions show Imbewu on e.tv has been cancelled after 5 years with the KwaZulu-Natal series which will conclude at the end of March and get replaced by a new locally-produced drama series.

E.tv gave no reason for the Imbewu cancellation which launched in April 2018 and has been one of the most-watched shows on the red letter channel the past half a decade, with eMedia saying that it remains "committed to its investment in local programming".

The late prime-time series focused on two Durban families - the Bhengus and Rampersads - and aired over 1 000 episodes.

"We'd like to thank the production for its commitment in delivering five great seasons of compelling stories, despite the highly competitive timeslots it found itself at 21:30 and 21:00," says Helga Palmer, eMedia's head of local programming.

The Imbewu co-executive producers, Leleti Khumalo; Duma Ndlovu and Anant Singh, in a statement say "We are proud to have created a trailblazing show that showcased the multicultural environment of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal".

"Imbewu changed the face of the daily drama offering on South African television with its unique storylines, cliffhangers and high drama, resulting in it becoming one of the most-watched shows. We are grateful to our broadcast partner, e.tv for their support of the show and for the opportunity."

e.tv brings viewers a South African type of The Bold and the Beautiful with new fashion world-set House of Zwide that replaces Rhythm City as primetime soap from 19 July.

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv is replacing its cancelled primetime soap Rhythm City with a type of South African The Bold and the Beautiful, with House of Zwide that will start on Monday 19 July and revolve around a "fashionable" Johannesburg family and the high-drama and ruthless ambition that marks the cut-throat fashion industry.

Just like the Forresters of Forrester Fashions in Los Angeles, the Zwide family in Johannesburg and their rivals are in constant competition and would rather be caught dead than being out of fashion.

Produced by Bomb Productions and VideoVision Entertainment, House of Zwide replaces Rhythm City that recently filmed its final scenes. e.tv has not yet announced any new casting for House of Zwide.

"The show could not have come at a better time," says Helga Palmer, e.tv's head of local productions.

"e.tv brings you a show of hopes and dreams to uplift and inspire viewers to believe they can achieve anything they put their minds to, in a world filled with uncertainty and despair. As Bomb Productions and VideoVision Entertainment are well-known for authentic storytelling, it will come as no surprise when the show takes South Africa by storm," Helga Palmer says.

Anant Singh, VideoVision Entertainment CEO, says "House of Zwide tells a thrilling rags-to-riches story set in the glamorous world of fashion".

"It is a timely, aspirational tale with many twists and turns that we believe will keep viewers glued to their television screens. We are excited to be partnering with Bomb Productions on this production which also marks our second series with e.tv."

Desiree Markgraaff, Bomb Productions executive producer, says "We acknowledge and are humbled to be following in the footsteps of Rhythm City which has blazed a trail in this time slot".

"We are very excited to be creating a new show for e.tv and hope viewers will welcome House Of Zwide. Covid-19 has been hard on everyone and we wanted to tell a story that reminds us that no matter the obstacles, we must never give up on our dreams."

SABC2 and e.tv scrubbing in with new hospital drama series Vutha and Durban Gen.

by Thinus Ferreira

Amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic South Africa's SABC and e.tv are both launching competing new locally-produced hospital dramas with SABC2 that will ventilate Vutha on Thursday nights at 21:30 from 3 September and with e.tv that will resperate Durban Gen from Monday 5 October at 18:30.

Vutha produced by Clive Morris Productions - eerily similar in name to the devastating and fictitious Vutha virus that caused chaos in SABC1's Generations in mid-2019 - as well as Durban Gen produced by Stained Glass TV, marks South African terrestrial television's first return to hospital drama series since SABC2's Hillside, SABC3's Jozi-H and M-Net's Binnelanders.

Both Vutha and Durban Gen have been filming and impacted by the real-world circumstances and changes to life and lockdown of the Covid-19 coronavirus in South Africa. 

Besides production schedule and operational changes, crews working behind-the-scenes at Vutha and Durban Gen suddenly had to don marks just like the on-screen talent after the threat of a real virus became as big a concern as the fictional medical dramas captured on screen.

Vutha, set within the Daveyton community and inside the corridors of the Edward Dondolo Hospital, will go "beyond the world of medicine where there is a world of love, friendship, betrayal, hope, desperation, corruption, greed and crime" according to SABC2 which didn't pre-screen the show ahead of its broadcast debut to TV critics and the media.

Created by TV producer and presenter Ntokozo Mbuli, Vutha stars Kabelo Moalusi as Dr Kgopotso Moabe and Dumisani Mbebe as Mzwakhe Masilela as it explores the journeys of medical professionals within the South African landscape and looks at the challenging lives that form the backdrop of their career successes.

Other cast members include Busisiswa Lurayi as specialist obstetrician Lungile Asumadu, Ayanda Bandla as Anelisa Moabe, Leroy Gopal as Ayitey Asumadu and Siya Raymond Sepotokele as Tumelo. Vutha's cast list also stars Mmarona Motshegoa, Lebohang Motaung, Miranda Ntshangase, Moditle Pholo, Molobane Maja and Sipho Mbele.

Clive Morris Productions describes the Edward Dondolo Hospital as "a furtive breeding ground for colourful characters, high stakes and great drama" with the heroic clinical manager, Dr Kgopotso Moabe, rushes to save a mother giving birth on the pavement outside the hospital.

Matron Mologadi arrives home from the United Kingdom to fix her fractured family and hospital CEO Mzwakhe is terrorised by a loan shark for outstanding debts.

"With a star-studded cast, viewers are in for a real treat and will no doubt emotionally connect with the characters and this intriguing story from the first episode," says Jacqui Hlongwane, SABC2 programme manager.

Durban drama
e.tv's Durban Gen is from the Grey's Anatomy mold, following, like Meredith, the life of the main protagonist Mbali Mthethwa, "a newly qualified doctor who moves to the big city, away from her fiancé and the small town they grew up in, to serve her final year of community service".

Durban Gen is filmed in Durban and set in the Durban township of Newlands East and the corridors of the Durban General academic public hospital.

It's here where Mbali, played by Nelisiwe Sibiya, soon finds herself in a love triangle between her fiancé Sbusiso Dlamini (Ntando Mncube) and her boss Dr Lindelani Zulu (Mike Ndlangamandla), described as "a brilliant, attractive surgeon with whom she has undeniable chemistry".

On her arrival at Durban General Hospital, Mbali assists in a surgery that goes horribly wrong and that leads to the death of a politician.

That plummets the hospital, Mbali, and Dr Lindelani Zulu into the middle of an investigation that threatens to derail her career.

The Durban Gen cast includes Meshack Mavuso as Dr Thabo Dlamini and Durban Gen's head of surgery, and Duduzile Ngcobo, who as Dr Nomalanga Qwabe.

According to e.tv Durban Gen "follows the trials, tribulations, triumphs, betrayals and bonds experienced by Mbali, the staff of Durban General, and the patients who come through its doors looking for help, refuge, and health".

"KwaZulu-Natal has progressively become the quintessential pulse of local productions, not only from a storyline perspective but for its ability to provide fertile soil from which to grow and build new talent," says Helga Palmer, e.tv's new head of local productions.

Helga Palmer appointed as managing director at Endemol Shine Africa, replacing Sivan Pillay.

Helga Palmer has been appointed as managing director at Endemol Shine Africa in South Africa.

Helga Palmer's appointment at the production company comes three month's after the abrupt departure of Sivan Pillay as Endemol Shine Africa CEO Sivan Pillay who had been the managing director.

in South Africa Endemol Shine Africa produces shows like Clash of the Choirs for M-Net's Mzansi Magic and the troubled weekday soap Isidingo for SABC3.

"We are very pleased with Helga's appointment," says Moeletsi Mbeki, executive chairperson in a statement about Helga Palmer's promotion.

"She is a highly skilled professional who has a long and proven track record within the television industry. Her experience in business affairs and entertainment production places Endemol Shine Africa under strong leadership and paves the way for further growth."

Helga Palmer worked at Endemol South Africa before she became a commissioning editor at M-Net in 2003. She returned to Endemol SA in 2011.

In a statement Helga Palmer says "I'm honoured to be leading Endemol Shine Africa and the outstanding team here".

"We have ambitious goals for 2017 and I believe we are ideally positioned to further build on the company's track record of serving the market with a diversity of world-class content across scripted and unscripted genres."