Knowing there's no channel carriage renewal deal in place, MultiChoice warned A+E Networks not to go ahead with its 2019 upfront and content showcase event - but A+E Networks Africa did it anyway. Then came the shocking revelation.

"Tonight's dining experience is all about the drama, mystery and suspense - much like our channel brands I guess," said Yusuf Nabee, the general manager for A+E Networks Africa, when he spoke at A+E Networks' content showcase held on the evening of 19 September.

Ironically, the majority of the invited guests - feasting on a channels-inspired, immersive 3-course dining experienced prepared and brought out by private chef Neill Anthony - had no idea that Yusuf Nabee's words were applicable to the very channels of History, Crime+Investigation Network and Lifetime: Themselves shrouded in a tense behind-the-scenes drama of mystery and suspense.

While Yusuf Nabee and other A+E Networks executives were poised to announce a slate of new local content and wow with sizzle reels of upcoming international content for the channels in 2020, A+E Networks had no deal in place to actually keep its channels on DStv from November 2019 following a brutal and bruising channel carriage negotiation stand-off.

From this in medias res, the tale rewinds to a short while earlier.

When MultiChoice got word that A+E Networks Africa was planning a content showcase event for 19 September, it sent major alarm bells ringing inside the pay-TV operator's Randburg-based MultiChoice City headquarters.

With the existing channel carriage contract between A+E Networks and MultiChoice for its trio of channels including History (DStv 186), Crime+Investigation Network (DStv 170) and Lifetime (DStv 131) expiring at the end of October and up for renewal, no deal was in place.

In fact, despite protracted to-and-fro negotiations over months between MultiChoice and A+E Networks UK over the terms and conditions for the channels and what A+E demanded MultiChoice to pay for them, neither companies have found each other by late-September at which time the soured relationship had already fractured and turned ugly.

Meanwhile A+E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst and Sky, went ahead and invited journalists; producers like Clive Morris and Katy Katopodis; as well as TV and radio presenters like Iman Rappetti and John Robbie to the event.

Even Dean Possenniskie, the managing director of A+E Networks for the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, was diarised to fly to Johannesburg to host the event.

MultiChoice, cautious and apprehensive over the unrealistic expectations that an A+E Networks presentation for the press about upcoming new content would create in the media and with the public, fired off an unambiguous and stern warning to A+E Networks and A+E Networks Africa about its planned A+E content showcase event.

In no uncertain terms MultiChoice warned A+E Networks not to go ahead with its planned A+E Networks content showcase and that MultiChoice would not be involved, with no MultiChoice executives, publicists or any of the pay-TV operator's staffers who ended up attending as is customary for the upfront presentations of channel partners.

Earlier this past week TVwithThinus asked A+E Networks UK and A+E Networks Africa why it decided to push through and go ahead with its A+E content showcase when it was aware that there was no contract renewal deal in place with MultiChoice, and after MultiChoice as a commercial partner specifically warned it not to go ahead with the presentation.

A+E Networks didn't respond to the media enquiry.

Don't Tell the Media South Africa
Yet A+E Networks Africa did a dazzling presentation for the press inside the Daytona showroom at Melrose Arch, announcing a flurry of new local programming.

This ranged from Don't Tell the Bride SA for 2020 as a new local commission, a 13-episode second season of Crime Stories SA from Clive Morris Productions, and a local gender-based violence special Loved Like Crazy from Nala Media set to broadcast in November 2019 on C+I - a channel which now won't even be on the air or available anywhere in South Africa past the end of this month.

Besides the new and expanded local content slate - programming that is now all under threat of possibly getting cancelled - A+E Networks Africa gave a preview of sparkling upcoming content over the next few months on its various channels, ranging from 60 Days In: Narcoland, Marrying Millions, Damian Lewis: Spy Wars, Watergate and The UnXplained.

"A+E Networks Africa promises a robust schedule of exciting and impactful original programming, as well as brand-new local and international content that will resonate with audiences," said A+E in its press statement.

The statement oddly and very conspicuously didn't contain any trace of the words "MultiChoice" or "DStv" anywhere in the 3-page content showcase announcement, with channels that always refer to the pay-TV services by name and the channel numbers that their channels reside on.

Creating a fake sense of 'future'
A few days later after A+E Networks's upfront presentation, the bomb exploded when MultiChoice - with a month left before the channels would go dark on its service - was forced to confirm to its subscribers that A+E's entire available channel collection on DStv is getting scrapped at the end of October.

The utter shock to paying DStv subscribers, the media, as well as South Africa's TV industry over the imminent loss of the A+E Networks channels was magnified by several degrees, and the ongoing brand and reputational damage inflicted on both MultiChoice and A+E has been much bigger, directly because of the showcase presentation that created buzz and hyped up new upcoming content.

Not only did the content showcase of A+E Networks Africa create anticipation over new and upcoming programming, it also created and reaffirmed a sense of stability and "future" - that the presence of A+E Networks, A+E Africa, and its channels on DStv, were secure and ongoing.

"The core of our business is a long-standing partnership with DStv. We highly value this partnership and we always look to innovate with DStv," said Dean Possenniskie from the stage, who mentioned that A+E had invested R30 million in creating local content in South Africa in 2019.

"We're proud to say that in the last 5 years we have invested in excess of R50 million into local productions which I think is very important for the local production community and which is something I believe that we will absolutely go on and do more of in the future."

"This evening you're going to see that - you'll see more of the exciting new local productions that are coming your way in 2020 for our subscribers and viewers."

Fatime Kaba, A+E Networks Africa's head of programming and scheduling, said that "There are more announcements to come in the next few months as we continue to close deals and invest in these channels that we all love and also invest in our local creators and industry".

"Our goal across our entire portfolio is to entertain, engage, challenge and make a difference in our viewers' lives. Lifetime helps our viewers to celebrate life in all its messiness, all its fun - with just a little controversy thrown in for good measure."

Then she quipped: "We love a good scandal here."


ALSO READ: MultiChoice dumps History, Lifetime and Crime+Investigation from DStv in South Africa and across Africa after channel carriage renewal negotiations break down with A+E Networks.
ALSO READ: Loss of a Lifetime sees thousands of livid DStv subscribers sign petition demanding that MultiChoice keeps the History, Crime+Investigation and Lifetime channels.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice on axing the A+E Networks channels from DStv after a bitter carriage fee fight: 'Unfortunately, some deals don’t go as intended'. 
ALSO READ: Local plans in peril: Cancellation threat hangs over A+E Networks Africa's entire local content slate after MultiChoice dumps its channels from DStv.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. In the ugly divorce between dad and mom MultiChoice and A+E Networks the biggest loser is the kids - viewers - who will bear the brunt of TV parents who now dislike each other.
ALSO READ: A+E Networks goes into hiding after MultiChoice axes its channels; petition grows to over 5 000 signatures from angry DStv subscribers as MultiChoice posts Channel Termination notices on the DStv EPG.

Iman Rappetti returns to eNCA after 18 months, this time to front her own weekly late-night talk show, Madam Speaker.

Iman Rappetti is returning to eNCA (DStv 403) a year and a half after she had left as NewsNight co-anchor and will now host a new weekly talk show entitled Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker will start on Thursday, 22 November at 21:30. Iman Rappetti left eNCA in April 2017 and has since been a radio presenter on Power 98.7 and wrote her moving memoir, Becoming Iman.

In Madam Speaker, eNCA says Iman Rappetti will "put newsmakers through their paces in front of a small group of ordinary South Africans".

"After her interrogation, the audience panel will have their chance to put their questions forward and state their views." eNCA is currently looking for audience panel members.

Weekly topics on Madam Speaker will range from politics and the economy to pressing social issues as well as arts and culture and religion. eNCA says the idea is to give South African citizens a chance to hear first-hand how real problems are being dealt with at the highest level and the opportunity to talk back.

"Iman is a well-known face on the station and among the most accomplished talk show hosts in the country. She brings with her high energy, huge empathy and a real understanding of the daily battles South Africans are undergoing and for which they are demanding answers and accountability," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief.

Iman Rappetti says "While I will continue with my work on radio, television broadcasting is in my blood, and I look forward to this exciting weekly interchange where South Africans can state their case first hand and press for answers on issues impacting on their lives".

"My job will be to guide the discussion, but you all know me, I'm not short of opinions either."

Iman Rappetti bows out from eNCA and NewsNight to write a book and read to her kids as Jeremy Maggs leans in and whispers: 'Are you alright? Are you okay?'

Iman Rappetti has bowed out of eNCA (DStv 403) and NewsNight, saying she wants to read more bedtime stories for her little girl, is writing a book and implored South Africa's journalists to keep asking questions despite silence and to hold up a mirror to ordinary people's struggles.

On a hot mic, accidentally not muted, eNCA viewers heard while she hugged her co-anchor Jeremy Maggs as the end-credits rolled, as he gently asked: "Are you alright? Are you okay?"

Iman Rappetti who immediately jetted off to New York for a well-deserved holiday over the long weekend, decided to leave the South African 24-hour TV news channel's prime time newscast that she co-anchored on most nights for the past half a decade with Jeremy Maggs.

Jeremy Maggs is also leaving NewsNight but not eNCA, having requested a shift to an earlier afternoon timeslot on the news channel.

This past Thursday evening just before the start of the Easter long weekend, with e.tv and eNCA that didn't issue a press release or a programming advisory to the media, Iman Rappetti signed off on her final NewsNight bulletin after over a decade with eNCA, about five years of which she spent behind the glass desk during prime time at eNCA's Hyde Park headquarters.

A visibly emotional Iman Rappetti wearing black and with two of her children watching behind-the-scenes in the studio, started crying.

She tissued-away tears on live television as Jeremy Maggs who called her "my friend", said "the country's best and most accomplished TV news anchor by far has read her final story".

"In her time here, she has proved to be a fearless journalist. Iman you ask questions that others are afraid to ask. But much more than that you have an eye for a story that's driven by a deep desire to get to the truth but never, ever at the expense of an abiding sense of decency and compassion," said Jeremy Maggs, who added that "myself and our loyal audience are going to miss you terribly".

And that's a wrap for @ImanRappetti at eNCA. We put together a little video of some of her highlights... #GoodbyeIman and thank you! pic.twitter.com/URjktG6bec

— eNCA (@eNCA) April 13, 2017

eNCA closed out NewsNight by showing a terrific highlights reel of Iman Rappetti's reporting over the years at eNCA and eNews, containing bloopers, various hairstyles and some of her most arresting and courageous doorstop interviews.

Iman Rappetti for instance interrupted the Zuma Spear painting defacer and asked if he's "meant to do this", and asked then-president Thabo Mbeki afew years back, "Have you seen the warrants for Jackie Selebi?" (His flabbergasted answer at her wonderful impertinence: "You can't be serious.").

Most recently Iman Rappetti walked up to president Jacob Zuma after his cabinet reshuffle where he refused to talk to the media as the sole journalist there brave enough to shout out: "Mister president, I just want to ask why you fired the finance minister? Are you able to give us some answers please sir? Mister Zuma?"

Iman Rapetti said she decided to go into journalism because "I couldn't afford to be a human rights lawyer".

"I remember my mom was polishing the floor on her hands and her knees and I said 'I'm going to study journalism'. She said: 'How are you going to do that?' And I said it is going to happen."

Iman Rappetti talking about journalism and specifically why she asked president Jacob Zuma about his recent cabinet firings, said: "We cannot accept silence. Not from our leaders."

About her next chapter, Iman Rappetti said "I'm writing a book. It's really cool. It's going to be a loose memoir. But I'm going to spend time with my children. I want to hold their hands more. I want to cook dinner. I want to make butter chicken curry as many nights as I possibly can."

"I want to read my little girl more stories to sleep at night".

"I just want to encourage all journalists out there to be utterly and supremely fearless in what you do. And to remember that stories are not about you. They're about the families it matters most to - especially those who has a voice, but whose voices need amplification. We need to in a clear way just hold a mirror and a megaphone to their context."

e.tv and eNCA hasn't announced whose taking over as NewsNight anchors from Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs.

eNCA's change is the third South African TV news channel that underwent a big on-air change in recent months.

Peter van Onselen left ANN7 (DStv 405) for eNCA as the Gupta news channel's last legacy, veteran anchor and on SABC News (DStv 404) Francis Herd became the new co-anchor next to Peter Ndoro after Vabakshnee Chetty-Miller signed off in January and left for America.

NIGHTY-NIGHT. Co-anchor duo Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti are both leaving eNCA's flagship NewsNight and prime time - here's why.

It's over for the best co-anchor TV news duo on South African television with Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti on eNCA not just leaving their seats behind the NewsNight oval glass desk and next to each other but also getting out of prime time after they've both had enough.

The dismantling of how eNCA (DStv 403) used to look and what it used to be continues with the co-anchors of its flagship nightly news broadcast, Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti both leaving NewsNight by the end of next month.

The widely respected news duo have been eNCA's co-joined prime time faces for the past five years, with their imminent big exit being the latest visible eNCA on-air disruption, part of the ongoing sea change taking place behind-the-scenes at the eMedia Investment run channel.

eNCA (DStv 403) hasn't named an anchor replacement or replacements for the nightly two and a half hour show done from e.tv's Hyde Park newsplex in Johannesburg in which Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti showed and shared great personal on-air rapport.

The beloved duo's on-air chemistry in the age of 24-hour TV news channels was exceptionally rare - especially for often-dull and dry, cookie cutter South African television news broadcasts and harkened back to the heydey of when M-Net's Carte Blanche with co-hosts Derek Watts and Ruda Landman would successfully banter with each other in a way that drew viewers more than into just a show, but into a news conversation.

"Both Jeremy and Iman have been key to the success of eNCA," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director. "We thank them for their loyalty, hard work and brilliance in bringing powerful news stories to our screens. This is a big change for the channel and our viewers, but also an opportunity to showcase talent in our newsroom and beyond".

Jeremy Maggs, the former Who Wants to be a Millionaire? SA host, who anchored NewsNight since its debut on eNCA 9 years ago, asked to be moved to an earlier timeslot on the channel.

Jeremy Maggs will be anchoring the lunchtime show Newsday from May that used to be done from Cape Town for years before eNCA management abruptly downsized the newsblock's operation by firing staff and moving the show to Johannesburg since November 2016.

Jeremy Maggs will also continue to do his marketing, media and advertising magazine show Maggs on Media broadcast on Sundays on eNCA.

Iman Rappetti who started out in earlier eNCA timeslots before landing the plum prime time timeslot is exiting eNCA after 11 years to get out of night time for family reasons.

While still the most polished of the three South African TV news channels and boasting the highest viewership under TV news channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, eNCA has been battered the past two years as it scaled down its once lofty news ambitions while it dramatically cut back on current affairs programming, abandoned its attempts at first-hand Africa coverage, shed news staff and reduced its on-air hours of live shows.

Although Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti the past few years often no longer co-anchored together, with both taking solo turns on several weeknights and both abandoning Friday nights on eNCA, NewsNight, despite its faults, remained the best produced general nightly news show on South African television.

eNCA's NewsNight anchor changes come as the struggling Gupta-owned, Infinity Media's ANN7 (DStv 405) rolls along with an unsteady and ever-changing revolving door of prime time anchors, and as the beleaguered SABC's SABC News (DStv 404) channel lost its prime time co-anchor Vabakshnee Chetty-Miller in January this year next to Peter Ndoro after she emigrated to America following the birth of her first child and maternity leave.

"It has been a heady, tough, rewarding, crazy ride," says Iman Rappetti. "Thank you for the gifts of professionalism, a platform to shine and unwavering support. The decision to leave is not an easy one but I need to put my family first."

Anton Harber, eNCA editor-in-chief says "Iman has contributed enormously to our success and is part of our channel's history. We are very sad to see her go".

Jeremy Maggs says that "after anchoring well over 1 000 editions of NewsNight it's high time I pass on the baton to a new team and get home a little earlier in the evening".

"I've been in discussion with the channel about this move for the past year and management has been both understanding and sensitive to my need for a change. I want to pay special tribute to Iman, my co-host for the past five years. Every night on-air together has been a treat".

'We gotta get out! We gotta get out!' How eNCA's panicked Iman Rapetti and SABC News' Chriselda Lewis reacted on live TV when #FeesMustFall turned violent.

"We gotta get out! We gotta get out!" said Iman Rappetti, eNCA (DStv 403) anchor and reporter, with the panic very clearly audible in her voice as loud thuds became audible against the side of the vehicle.

Elsewhere on the burning lawns of the Union Buildings, the SABC News' (DStv 404) star reporter Chriselda Lewis fought her own battle trying to rescue an interrupted live interview on the air as a scuffle with angry protesters was shown on live South African television as well.


It was just two of the incidents that were shown live on South African television news on Friday as panicked and stressed TV news reporters and TV news crews tried to cover the #FeesMustFall student protest and march at the Union Buildings on Friday.

Besides TV news, several radio reporters and newspaper journalists also reported that they were threatened with physical violence and at least one SABC cameraman and one BBC cameraman got injured following students throwing rocks and other objects.

Earlier in the day, Patrick Conroy, eNCA managing director, reminded all eNCA staff that safety covering stories and events come first and that they should leave any place immediately when they no longer feel safe where they are.

A heavy-handed police presence - firing tear gas, stun grenades, chasing students and firing a water cannon - at the Union Building only served to escalate tensions and violence on Friday.

It was made worse by the South African president Jacob Zuma's failure to address students protesting over student fees, directly, after government officials over a loudspeaker earlier in the day told them that he would.

The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) says it is concerned by intimidation and harassment reports of the media by the police and protesters.

"We're shocked by the fact that journalists were targeted by the police and some of the protesters," says Sanef director Mathatha Tsedu.

"We've called on the police to ensure that they stick to the agreement that we have with them."

"We note with concern that some journalists, including a reporter from the BBC and an eNCA cameraman, were injured after rocks were thrown at police and journalists at the Union Buildings."

"Equipment was damaged and there were also reports of theft. Sanef commends those students who intervened and forced their peers to return the equipment."

Although the day's student fees protest started out peaceful, it descended into chaos and violence.

It looked as if South African TV news crews were not adequately prepared for covering the story on Friday in terms of taking adequate security measures and back-up plans to safeguard their own well-being as well as protecting their equipment and live broadcasts.

It was foreseeable that the lawns of the Union Buildings could erupt and turn into a so-called "hot zone" given the violent events that played out earlier the week at parliament and at universities across South Africa.

Yet South African TV news crews, instead of just covering the story, also became the story.

The question can be asked whether TV news crews took enough precautions or did enough security analysis and pre-planning for the unpredictable event and if they could have made better choices given what they knew could happen (and which then did).

Spots they reported from came under attack from pelting rocks and stones, outside broadcast vans were damaged and warned that it could be set alight, reporters and cameramen were hit with rocks and flying objects, and equipment from satellite vans to cameras were broken, vandalised and couldn't be used anymore.

It not clear how TV news crews planned to make a quick exit and retreat with satellite vans from where they chose to park surrounded by thousands of students.

Was it possible to take some, or more if they did, of their own security protection personnel to help shield reporters and whisk them to safety if they came under attack or if violence broke out (which it did)?

Some different metrics and a different guidebook is used reporting from conflict zones and war zones - something not a lot of South African TV news reporters and anchors have experience in, or experienced.

The lawns of the Union Buildings on Friday afternoon turned into a conflict zone where a different set of news rules work better although the news values of trying to get the news out and reporting it remain unchanged. TV news should have anticipated that.

South African TV news did great work on Friday in extremely unpredictable and difficult circumstances.

Yet I cannot help but wonder if they couldn't have thought longer, have been wiser and more prudent, and have prepared a bit better before beforehand.

A challenging day for South African TV news crews battling violent protesters, rocks, police tear gas as #FeesMustFall movement reaches Union Buildings.

South African TV news crews, as well as newspaper journalist and radio reporters, were confronted by a challenging, difficult and extremely unpredictable day today, trying to cover, and to cover all the angles of the student fees protest which reached the Union Buildings today.

The fast-developing took a violent turn as the #FeesMustFall student protest turned the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday into a "hot zone", filled with rocks and stones being thrown as well as other objects, journalists threatened by protesters, students burning porta-potties and police firing stun grenades and tear gas.

eNCA suffered damage due to vandalism including cable theft, while eNCA reporter Iman Rappetti and camera crew were pelted with rocks.

At least one SABC reporter got injured and was hurt in the chaos, while both newspaper journalists and radio reporters were threatened with physical assault.

Most South African TV news crews and broadcasters, in hindsight, didn't take adequate precautions entering the area and covering the student protests as an unpredictable, and therefore dangerous, news story.

The SABC's one outside broadcasting (OB) vehicle was warned to pack up and get out since it might be set alight by the thousands of protesters who went on a rampage and started burning tyres, breaking down the wire fence surrounding the Union Buildings, throwing rocks at media and police, and burning porta loos.

eNCA (DStv 403) anchor Iman Rappetti was hit with an object when at one point she suddenly found herself in the middle of rocks, stones and other objects being flung by protesters.

Later, Iman Rappetti, together with the eNCA crew, were subjected to some of the rounds of teargas fired by police on the Union Building grounds, after being pelted with rocks and stones.

An eNCA camera was also damaged by a rock, with a lens shattered. Although the cameraman was hit as well, he was uninjured as heavy-handed riot police once again moved in.

Earlier in the day eNCA cabling was also stolen and the vandalism also put an eNCA satellite van out of action.


"We gotta get out! We gotta get out!" said a panicked Iman Rappetti in a clip from the eNCA broadcast included in one of the stories filed by Sky News (DStv 403) when the eNCA crew suddenly came under attack at the Union Buildings.

"An object did hit Iman Rappetti in the face, but she was not injured and is fine," eNCA told TV with Thinus. "A rock also hit one of the camera lenses, damaging it and putting it out of action".

Reporters Bingiwe Khumalo and Nontobeko Sibisi also covered for eNCA in Pretoria, and Nickolaus Bauer followed events from inside the Union Buildings.

On SABC News (DStv 404), senior reporter Chriselda Lewis who did brilliant coverage on location on Friday, got her one live on-air interview interrupted and abandoned after protesters derailed it.


The SABC News reporters Sipho Stuurman and Tumaole Mohlaoli also covered the scene from Pretoria.

"It was absolute chaos. Absolute chaos," said a hoarse Christelda Lewis on SABC News on Friday evening back in studio at Auckland Park.

"Journalists were not free. Students were not free. Innocent bystanders, professors, lecturers who were there to sympathise with the cause, were absolutely not free".

"One of the SABC journalist's got hurt and at some point we were being thrown - I don't think it was directed at the journalists - but the teargas was all up in our faces," said Chriselda Lewis.

"We were unable to do our jobs. Absolute chaos at the end of the day."

A BBC cameraman was also injured by objects hurled by protesters on Friday.

CNN International's (DStv 401) David McKenzie was at the Union Buildings as well covering the unpredictable protest that escalated as the event progressed.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 11 September 2015

eNCA's (DStv 403) Iman Rappetti talks.
The eNCA PrimeTime anchor talks to The Media - reveals how she thought she was going to die giving birth in the desert (in a military hospital), shares her views on womanhood, being a "fierce and loyal friend", and how she had to knock on doors in South Africa media.

ABC News' David Muir is an "anchor monster".
"Cranky" David has apparently been "lashing out at staff" and screams at the crew because "David is still losing to Lester".

M-Net's Zambezi Magic on DStv is now looking for music videos.
After M-Net dumped Channel O outside of South Africa, it now wants to try again from scratch, looking for music videos from Southern Africa in preparation for Zambezi Magic's first two music video shows, Zed Top 10 and Zim Top 10 - but artists need to be registered with RISA and SAMRO in South Africa.

"Mini crabs are quick to hide in their holes. MultiChoice and Mauritius do have some similarities." 
Another belated story about the MultiChoice Content Showcase of last week, this one a bad, blatant press release cut and paste job, infused with some tropicalness. Let's cry for this continent's journalism.

Steve Harvey on why there will be no more Oprah Winfreys.
The talk show host of The Steve Harvey Show on etv. and SABC1 explains why he isn't - and why there won't even be - another Oprah Winfrey.


Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogery
In Britain, the Channel4 weatherman Liam Dutton goes viral after he perfectly says, well, the basically impossible - a small town's name in Wales. Perfectly.
And then Iman Rappetti on eNCA also tries to say it on Thursday night.


Brian Williams wills start on MSNBC (StarSat 263) on 22 September.
The damaged and disgraced former NBC Nightly News anchor is shipped off to MSNBC

Meanwhile CNN staff are furious with their boss Jeff Zucker
over his obsessive Donald Trump coverage. "We are not perfect," CNN boss tells staffers at meeting.

FOX says it won't interfere editorially after buying National Geographic
and uniting Nat Geo's media platforms under one platform that will now be going for profit.

In a wonderful long-piece, more about how David Gregory was fired at Meet the Press Sundays on CNBC Africa (DStv 410).
And what it says about television news: the nasty internal sabotage, TV-size ego's clawing to climb, terrible bosses - and the high priority to constantly be breaking news in a saturated media environment.

A terrific look behind the scenes of the special effects to create Game of Thrones' environments and different landscapes.

eNCA's NewsNight anchors, Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti in an on-air 'quicky' which derails the broadcast.

You're reading it here first.

eNCA's flagship nightly newscast, NewsNight, with co-anchors Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti on Wednesday night was inappropriate and ill-suited when Jeremy Maggs' weird joke about "a quicky" derailed the broadcast just before a break when Iman Rappetti burst out laughing and couldn't properly speak anymore.

It's possibly the first off-key misstep ever of South African television news' premier anchoring duo.

Their usually unflappable style which cleverly sees them smooth over technical mistakes and cover for each other, their warm co-anchoring demeanour, professional real-time presence, and their subdued humour which always strikes just the right tone, went slightly off kilter on Wednesday night's NewsNight.

"Well, time now for a quicky ... a market update that is," said Jeremy Maggs.

Co-anchor Iman Rappetti's eyes went wide, followed by a gasp and then laughter which she tried to hold in - but also making her swallow her words which became almost inaudible to viewers.

NewsNight cut to a break on eNCA, leaving viewers feeling oddly, strange, uncertain as to what to make of the live on-air oops.

As a side-note, the NewsNight's business anchor Andile Gumede was simply terrible on Wednesday night - either completely unprepared, struggling with a broken autocue, or the victim of his own doing or some other form of technical difficulties.

Andile Gumede's delivery on Wednesday night, repetitive mistakes, staccato non-sensical sentences and blabbering business mumbo-jumbo made for cringe-worthy television - not the tape to take with your CV as an example of your work to your next job interview.

BREAKING. eNCA going with 'gavel-to-gavel' live Oscar Pistorius murder trial coverage on television; doing a special Sunday preview.

eNCA (DStv 403) plans to broadcast "gavel-to-gavel" live coverage of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial for viewers whenever its allowed in the courtroom, and will have comprehensive reporting with nightly TV specials of the day's events between 19:00 and 20:00, repeated at 22:00.

ANN7 (DStv 405) did not announce Oscar Pistorius court trial coverage plans on television, but besides eNCA, MultiChoice will run a dedicated, 24-hour Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on DStv on channel 199, and the Sabido-owned Platco Digital will also run its own dedicated, 24-hour Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on OpenView HD (OVHD) on channel 119.

eNCA says the South African TV news channel will have an hour long Oscar Pretorius murder trial preview show on Sunday night at 18:00 as it gears up for covering "one of the biggest news stories of the year".

From Monday 3 March eNCA will broadcast live courtroom coverage and ongoing expert analysis and interpretation from a special vantage point outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

eNCA will use its specialist court reporter Karyn Maughan who has covered the story right from that shocking day last year on Valentine's Day when Oscar Pretorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

eNCA's team of reporters who will also cover the unfolding court room and news proceedings include Annika Larson, Phakamile Hlubi, Uveka Rangappa, Cathy Mohlahlana, Jeremy Maggs, Iman Rappetti and Gareth Edwards who will field anchor from outside the Pretoria court room.

"Everyone will be covering the Oscar Pistorius trial," says Patrick Conroy, eNCA's group head of news.

"The difference will be the quality of reporting, accuracy and insights into what is going on. We have specialist reporters to do this. We will also provide consistent updates on Twitter and our website enca.com".

"While the Oscar Pistorius trial is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the year, we will make sure our viewers also get regular updates on all other important news stories," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director.

GOTTA LOVE 'EM: Totally redundant to say it - but yes - Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti of NewsNight are TV news' dream team.

The sheer amazingness when you're an immaculate professional and at the pinnacle of what you do, must surely be a blessing.

Just ask eNCA's (DStv 403) NewsNight co-anchors Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti.

Together these two work (on a seemingly co-joined stratospheric Q score level as TV newsers) on a playing field where nobody else in South African television news even comes close to touching them when they move in behind the reflective desk in the Hyde Park studio.

To do the news on television, to deliver it right, and to also make it flow with just the right touch of imbued personality and empathy is an incredibly hard thing to achieve. To make it look deceptively easy - almost impossible.

Yet its what Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti achieve, every time they're co-anchor the news on eNCA together. Ipso facto: ease, flow - and TV news perfection.

There's really not much more I can say, comment on, or contextualise that I've not yet said before regarding this terrific primetime NewsNight co-anchor duo.

As a TV critic I'm not obsessed with them; I'm not trying to favour eNCA or NewsNight or Jeremy Maggs or Iman Rappetti. But I have to keep watching it (and them!) and what I keep seeing, without fail, remains astounding.

What they do and how they do it - their smooth, faultless delivery, their in tandem teamwork throwing to and backing each other up all the way, the casual yet formal professionalism and warmth they exude jointly - is really television and TV news that viewers in South Africa (or wherever they're watching it) shouldn't take for granted.

What Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti - together with quite clearly a lot of dedicated and talented people behind the cameras - are doing night after night on NewsNight on eNCA is great, high quality television news.

The on-air pairing is unique and incredibly synergistic and remains amazing to watch (second would be Jason Kennedy and Giuliana Rancic on E! News on E! Entertainment - and that's with the easier and softer entertainment news as genre).

Doing hard news, especially on live television, and staying focused but yet also making it personal without making it frivolous, keeping the viewer tuned in without gimmicks and tabloid coverage, establishing a personal connection and keeping that connection, is an incredibly hard, difficult and elusive thing to do.

Together Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti simply excel at it.

Yes. I've said it before, I will try not to say it again.

Yet, in fairness - and since NewsNight is an ongoing television programme - I feel that I have to reiterate that there's simply no better nightly newscast for the South African TV viewer than NewsNight with Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti on eNCA.

Take just the very final closer moment of Wednesday night's NewsNight edition. Laugh it off, maybe don't even realise what you're really seeing, or what they're really doing so subtly - but if you really dissect it, its a potent drop of their consummate television news delivery skill at large.

Look at the pauses, the eye contact with each other (but also with you as the viewer as the third person in this implicit triad), the hand movements, and the seamless ongoing switch and transition between talking to each other and talking directly to the viewer as if you're really physically present.

Observe the small personal, ongoing revelations night after night - like tonight that Jeremy Maggs is "grumpy", is on a no-carbs diet, and needs his supper.

Their light and often humorous to-and-fro style when the news content allows it is always pitch-perfect. Their quick and contained banter create the illusion that they bringing the news but that they're really open about everything about themselves. It fosters trust and likability.

Whether deliberately done or a natural outflow of their on-screen working relationship Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti also strengthen this over time.

They've created, and keep creating the illusory feeling that you know them - personally - that when you have to make a choice that they are the clever, warm yet professional "friends", the ones that you know the best, the ones that you want to tune to when it comes to the television space you want to get your news from.

What you see and what you get from Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti together - is a truly exceptional, and very rare, high quality television news anchoring symbiosis.

Something which neither viewer, nor eNCA, should ever take for granted.


ALSO READ: eNCA's Jeremy Maggs asks his co-anchor Iman Rappetti for her ring finger - but it's not what you're thinking.

South Africa's TV newsers front and centre at parliament in Cape Town for the 2014 State of the Nation Address.

South Africa's TV news reporters are front and centre at parliament today for live coverage of the opening of parliament and president Jacob Zuma's 6th State of the Nation Address.

ANN7 (DStv 405) didn't respond to media enquiries regarding parliamentary coverage today but the Infinity media 24-hour news channel has Hajra Omarjee (above) in Cape Town reporting.

It's Hajra Omarjee's first time covering parliament's opening for television. ANN7 also has reporter Kevin Brandt reporting from Cape Town, dressed all in black as well as reporter Qaanitah Hunter.

SABC News (DStv 404) didn't supply names following a media enquiry as to who the South African public broadcaster will have at parliament today, but Alicia Jali (below) is reporting from Cape Town for SABC News.

It's also Alicia Jali's first time covering the opening of parliament for television and SABC News.

The SABC also has political editor Vuyo Mvuko (above) reporting live from parliament. Abra Barbier, parliamentary correspondent for the SABC, did parliamentary red carpet coverage.

eNCA (DStv 403) did respond to a media enquiry earlier this week about that 24-hour TV news channel's coverage.

Andrew Barnes (below) from News Day - a veteran when it comes to live parliamentary TV coverage - and reporter Paula Chowles are covering live from parliament on eNCA. Xoli Mngambi as well as Lester Kiewit also joined later on Thursday evening.

The eNCA News Night co-anchor Iman Rappetti is also be covering the event today live from parliament.

eNCA and e.tv to cover the 2014 State of the Nation live on Thursday 13 February; Iman Rappetti and Andrew Barnes to anchor.

You're reading it here first. 

The South Africa 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) as well as e.tv will both be covering the 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA) live this Thursday 13 February.

eNCA will do live coverage on Thursday throughout the day.

SABC2 will also carry the 2014 State of the Nation Address live, and will also have live afternoon coverage on Thursday afternoon.

The other two South African TV news channels, SABC News (DStv 404) and ANN7 (DStv 405) will very likely also cover the State of the Nation Address on Thursday; both the SABC and ANN7 is yet to respond to media enquiries regarding what each will be doing regarding coverage.

eNCA's State of the Nation coverage will be anchored by Iman Rappetti and Andrew Barnes on Thursday 13 February from 16:00 until 18:16. eNCA will broadcast the opening of parliament live, followed by president Jacob Zuma's 2014 State of the Nation Address.

eNCA will have detailed expert analysis, as well as reaction from the public, politicians and pundits on Thursday.

e.tv will scrap eNews Early Edition on Thursday, which will be replaced by soap Rhythm City and sister soap Scandal! will move earlier on Thursday to 18:30.

eNews Prime Time on e.tv on Thursday will be preempted by eNCA's special coverage, with the State of the Nation Address running on both channels from 19:00 until 20:30.

There will be no Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola episode on Thursday on e.tv, and e.tv's normal programming will resume on Thursday night at 20:30 with Rachel Getting Married.

'Heellooooo, I'm fine,' says Iman Rappetti. 'Guys, can we turn that down a bit," says Jeremy Maggs as eNCA makes an open mic oopsie.

eNCA (DStv 403) experienced an open mic oopsie on Thursday evening - when viewers hear what TV presenters say when that audio channel should be muted for the live channel.

The eNCA audio oops wasn't as bad as when viewers heard ANN7's (DStv 405) prime time anchor Chantal Rutter Dros admonished her ANN7 technical colleagues in October during an ad break over on-air mistakes - but it's still noteworthy.

Thursday evening just after Derek van Dam's weather when the end credits rolled, viewers could suddenly hear NewsNight co-anchors Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs get ready for the nightly newscast.

"Heellooooo. I'm fine," said Iman Rappetti when viewers didn't see her - and definitely shouldn't have heard her.

"Guys, can we turn that down a bit," said Jeremy Maggs, his lapel mic open for eNCA viewers to hear as well.

Some more noises, some more talk from Iman Rappetti and finally someone in the eNCA control room at the Hyde Park based 24-hour TV news channel pushed the mute button.

eNCA's Jeremy Maggs asks his NewsNight co-anchor Iman Rappetti for her hand and ring finger live on television! But it's not what you think.

On Tuesday evening South African television's bona fide first couple of TV news had a moment when the eNCA's (DStv 403) primetime news anchor Jeremy Maggs asked his NewsNight co-anchor Iman Rappetti for her hand and her ring finger live on television.

But it wasn't what viewers thought.

After she was off, and then he was off during the end of year and start-up period, Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti are back together co-anchoring NewsNight together with their brilliant on-screen chemistry.

On Tuesday evening on eNCA the two once again not only brought viewers the news, but as always their indelible co-anchoring TV news magic which always enhances the already stellar night news broadcast.

Iman Rappetti told viewers about a new blue diamond - the rarest of diamonds in the world - discovered at the Cullinan mine near Pretoria, worth millions and the size of an acorn.

That's when Jeremy Maggs chipped in with his impromptu, off the cuff question when he asked Iman Rappetti: "Show me your ring finger?"

The never flapped Iman Rappetti - always ready to ham it up a little with her co-anchor during less serious moments - laughed and diligently held out her hand.

"I think it should fit. Acorn?" she mused.

"We'll see what we can do," said Jeremy Maggs before they returned to the serious news.

Here's the adorable, funny moment:

DRESSED IN BLACK. South Africa's news anchors are all dressed in black on television as multiple TV reporters also choose black attire.

Following the death of Nelson Mandela, all of South Africa's news anchors were dressed in black as a visible sign of mourning on Friday night during all the primetime TV news bulletins.

Across all channels providing news - SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv, eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News (DStv 404), ANN7 (DStv 405) - and on M-Net's special live Friday commemorative edition of Carte Blanche with Derek Watts and Bongani Bingwa, all the anchors were unanimous in the colour of their attire: black.

From Vabakshnee Chetty and Vuyo Mvuko on SABC News, to Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs on eNCA, to Peter Stemmet on ANN7 and several others, they all appropriately showed their feelings regarding Nelson Mandela and what he meant and means to South Africa on their sleeves.

Several TV reporters from the three South African TV news channels also wore black, or a combination of black and white during the day as they did live reporting and filed stories on location throughout South Africa.

Weather presenters also chose to wear black on South African television today.

eNCA's Iman Rappetti channels Queen Nefertiti on NewsNight on Wednesday evening's broadcast.

Iman Rappetti, co-anchor of NewsNight, eNCA's (DStv 403)'s flagship nightly live news broadcast, channeled what seemed like the legendary Egyptian queen Nefertiti with her interesting choice of headgear on Wednesday night's broadcast.

GOLDEN COUPLE. South African TV news' best TV news couple - eNCA's Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs - also colour co-ordinate.

There's zero chance that it's co-incidence and as Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs of NewsNight on eNCA (DStv 403) continue to shine as they set the brilliant benchmark for what is the best in all of South African television news broadcasting, something else is also very clear: they take time to colour co-ordinate.

On Friday evening on NewsNight, with South Africa in the grip of a cold front, the veritable TV news GoPro's Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs glowed golden on South African TV screens - she in yellow, and he in gold.

When they care who make television, we care. And when its clear that it isn't just about showing up to bring the news but that there's small touches of thought and intent before they move behind the anchor desk, viewers - often unconsciously - stick around and watch.

With Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs NewsNight on eNCA just feels right. Not just for credible news done right but for TV news anchors who are credible even to the point of making sure they don't clash on the air as far as their clothes are concerned.

Iman Rappetti beamed on Friday night in yellow with a locket; Jeremy Maggs' beautiful golden tie perfectly complemented. The image eNCA beamed to viewers? Perfect professionalism.

With faultless pronunciation, visible preparation which went into what they're doing, seamless sharing, smart banter, and looking as if they're really having fun at work doing real journalism while they run through the day's serious news stories and events of importance, Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs are clearly, definitely, the golden couple of South African television news.

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.

Chester Missing rips Iman Rappeti 'those earrings! It's like you've got your own satellite!', Jeremy Maggs and TopTV on NewsNight.

You're reading it here first. 

The famous puppet Chester Missing ripped into Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs as the co-anchors of NewsNight on the eNCA (DStv 403) on Friday night when they interviewed the enfant terrible plasticine puppet and his always-around friend Conrad Koch.

Chester Missing is currently on tour in South Africa with Conrad Koch.

The delightfully abrasive and outspoken puppet from Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola on e.tv and the eNCA has gained a large cult following across South Africa and the incorrigible puppet is now highly popular with South African politicians and the hoi polloi alike.

Chester Missing didn't hold back in the Hyde Park eNCA news studio and mocked both Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs but also went for the jugular with several politicians across the political spectrum, TopTV which got approval to broadcast porn, and even referenced developing news events.

Chester Missing said Jeremy Maggs won't fit into a suitcase because it would scrunch up his hair.

Jeremy Maggs asked Conrad Koch about the "relationship you have with this..." when Chester Missing suddenly chimed in with: "it's perverted. It's gonna be on TopTV."

Asked who's the dominant person in the duo, Chester Missing said "we used to be like that 50/50 programme. Now we're more like 49/51." "Chester Missing's career has taken off and we're floating along behind him, which is what the Chester Missing Roadshow is all about," said Conrad Koch.

Other clever bon mots from the puppet, live on television on the eNCA?

"It's not right for a white guy to put words in a brown guy's mouth. You know what it's like Iman. You work at e.tv," said Chester Missing. "eNCA!"  Conrad Koch quickly corrected.  "I'm self-scripted," Iman Rappetti chimed in.

"Those earrings! It's like you've got your own satellite!" screamed Chester Missing about Iman Rappetti's large golden earrings.

About his amazing interview skills the always so shy Chester Missing said: "I'm like Debora Patta. With a thingie."

"Shut that puppet up!" Iman Rappetti said eventually.

"That was a tough interview that. Thank goodness its over," exclaimed Jeremy Maggs at the end of the funny interview.

IMAN ABSENT. Iman Rappetti on eNCA is gone ... but not forgotten: anchor is on study leave and will be back on-air mid-April.

You're reading it here first. 

Iman Rappetti is gone from her usual perch at Hype Park as the co-anchor of NewsNight next to Jeremy Maggs on the eNCA (DStv 403) - but she will be back from mid-April.

Rumours started swirling about Iman Rappetti's absence - some wondered whether it was the end of the "experiment" of the co-anchoring duo and whether there's been some kind of a falling out - the fact is that their on-screen chemistry is great and viewers like the interaction between them when they are doing NewsNight together.

Iman Rappetti is actually not in South Africa which is the reason for her NewsNight (or other daypart) absence on the eNCA - she's actually studying abroad.

"Iman Rappetti is on an eNCA-sponsored fellowship to Duke University in North Carolina, USA," the eNCA tells me.

"She will be part of a programme involving other international journalists at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University."

"Iman will be back at work and on-air at eNCA in the week op 15 April," says the eNCA.