Newzroom Afrika launches on MultiChoice's DStv with the new TV channel saying it hopes 'to be seen as a strong alternative' in the local TV news sphere.

The new Newzroom Africa channel made its debut on Thursday evening on MultiChoice’s DStv satellite pay-TV service, telling viewers that the new South African TV news channel hopes “to be seen as a strong alternative” in the local TV news and crowded media sphere.

Newzroom Afrika, set up by Thabile Ngwato's Rapid Innovation and Thokozani Nkosi's Eclipse TV, will compete against rivals like eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) in a highly-contested TV space for eyeballs and advertising rands and made new journalism appointment besides luring away on-air talent from other news broadcasters and radio stations.

“Our promise to you is to be an innovate and interactive multimedia news service, to be seen as as a strong alternative for professional, incredible South African current affairs coverage. We promise to unpack the unspoken,” said Thabile Ngwato in an on-screen launch message as she stood next to co-founder Thokozani Nkosi before the studio’s big video wall.

Nkosi said that the channel hopes to bring “cutting-edge content to your screen”.

 Newzroom Afrika takes over the vacant spot of channel number 405 where the controversial Gupta family’s ANN7 used to reside before it Mzwanele Manyi took it over, rebranded it as Afro Worldview and that saw it get shut down by MultiChoice in August 2018.

Newzroom Afrika unveiled its new set inside its studio in Linden, Johannesburg on Thursday evening with an L-shaped, red desk and a video wall on the right-hand side.

 The NewzAtPrime co-anchor Cathy Mohlahlana who anchored during prime time on eNCA before she was moved back to an afternoon slot and then left, had an on-screen TV reunion with another former eNCA star, Karyn Maughan. 

Cathy Mohlahlana and Karyn Maughan are two of several other former eNCA staffers who have made the jump to Newzroom Afrika.

The launch broadcast – unlike the one of ANN7 which was overshadowed by bloopers and mistakes that instantly went viral – went off without obvious glitches or technical mistakes, with Cathy Mohlahlana and her co-anchor and sports editor Marc Lewis, formerly involved with the SABC, who both did great. 

The first news bulletin followed a surprisingly traditional TV news approach, pace and presentation style.

Newzroom Afrika didn’t release a schedule to the media but its next big programming launch will be its weekday morning show, Breaking Dawn, that will kick off on Friday morning with presenters Sizwe Dhlomo, Carmen Reddy and Gugu Mhlungu and that will revolve around “topical issues with informal banter and analysis”.

 Newzroom Afrika during its first bulletin, announced that it will be covering South Africa’s general elections set for 8 March. 

It applied for and managed to secure its own branded media berth at the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) operations centre in Pretoria-West from where it will be able to broadcast from similar to the other TV news channels.

TV news channels are notoriously expensive to run and take a long time to reach break-even point. Newzroom Afrika didn’t yet divulge details regarding possible other funders besides MultiChoice, but the launch broadcast did contain TV commercials from the outset that will bring in some additional money as a revenue source. 

Studio, equipment, technology investments and the staff compliment who have been hired, including how many former Afro Worldview staffers were taken over, have not been shared.

The South African government in a statement welcomed the launch of Newzroom Afrika, with Phumla Williams, government spokesperson, saying "Government is encouraged by the growing number of 24-hour news channels in the country, which further strengthens media diversity. The introduction of Newzroom Afrika will further shape public discourse on pertinent matters affecting our nation".

"The new channel will contribute immensely to South Africa’s dynamic media industry and also contribute towards creating an informed citizenry. Government wishes Newzroom Afrika all of the best in its endeavour."

ALSO READ: No press briefing or media launch event for the new Newzroom Afrika on MultiChoice's DStv; new TV news channel's execs are 'too busy' to do interviews.

ALSO READ: TOLDJA! New TV news channel, Newzroom Afrika, to oddly launch on 2 May on MultiChoice's DStv with some familiar TV and radio names.

ALSO READ: With whispers of a 2 May launch date and already missing its 'early-2019' launch target, the new TV news channel Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice are failing to keep their promise of keeping the media informed. 

TOLDJA! New TV news channel, Newzroom Afrika, to oddly launch on 2 May on MultiChoice's DStv with some familiar TV and radio names.

Exactly as TV biz insiders whispered, the new South African TV news channel Newzroom Afrika plans to launch on Thursday 2 May with news talent including the former eNCA stars Cathy Mohlahlana, Thulasizwe Simelane and Karyn Maughan who have jumped to front-face the new channel.

While MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika executives in August 2018 when they announced the successful news channel bidder promised to keep the media updated on the channel's progress towards its "early-2019" launch, nothing had been forthcoming.

"We'll be sharing further details about the channel in the coming weeks," said Thabile Ngwato in the MultiChoice press release that was issued on 28 August 2018 but that was 8 months ago and Newzroom Afrika failed to share details with the media.

Thabile Ngwato's Rapid Innovation and Thokozani Nkosi's Eclipse TV are behind Newzroom Afrika that will directly compete against rivals like eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) in a highly-contested TV space for eyeballs and advertising rands and where eNCA lures more than 50% of the combined and existing TV news channels' audience on DStv.

Last week when asking MultiChoice in a media enquiry whether Newzroom Afrika will be launching on 2 May, Benedict Maaga, MultiChoice spokesperson, said MultiChoice can't confirm any dates.

Newzroom Afrika suddenly announced on Monday evening that it will be going live on Thursday late-afternoon.

Although missing its "early-2019" launch date, its second quarter activation means that Newzroom Afrika will try to gain viewers in the few days remaining to do pre-election coverage in the lead up to South Africa's national elections on 8 May.

On Thursday Newzroom Afrika, will take over the open channel spot on channel 405 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service left vacant after it axed the controversial Gupta family's ANN7 channel that was acquired by Mzwanele Manyi and rebranded as Afro Worldview until it shut down in August last year.

While the programming line-up, content and on-air talent of Newzroom Afrika isn't known, other media talent who will be involved with Newzroom Afrika include some established radio and TV voices and faces including several Power FM name-brands.

Newzroom Afrika on Monday night listed Liezle Wilson, Thami Ngubeni, Sizwe Dhlomo, Gugulethu Mhlungu, Natasha Thorp, Thabo Mdluli, JJ Tabane, Aubrey Masango, Marc Lewis, Jacob Moshokoa, Bongiwe Zwane, and the former Afro Worldview editor Mpho Sithole as now being a part of the TV news channel.

Journalist Karyn Maughan has also been hired, as well as Ayabonga Cawe. 

According to the DStv electronic programme guide (EPG), none of the information which has been shared with the media, Newzroom Afrika programming will include a morning news show, Breaking Dawn, with presenters Sizwe Dhlomo, Carmen Reddy and Gugu Mhlungu.

Other programming will be shows like Newzfeed and Business Unusual.

Newzroom Afrika's flagship news show will be Newz@Prime (or NewsAtPrime) anchored by Cathy Mohlahlana and Marc Lewis as sports editor.

As Thursday's 2 May launch date looms for Newzroom Afrika, DStv Media Sales, MultiChoice's advertising selling arm, apparently entered into a commercial partnership with Newzroom Afrika from 24 April to sell on-air advertising on behalf of the channel.

In March 2019 Newzroom Afrika started a recruitment process looking for reporters, producers, editors and people to fill various other positions.

Insiders last week said they hope that Newzroom Afrika will be able to sidestep the mistakes of ANN7's disastrous on-air launch that immediately went viral with lasting damage to that channel's credibility.

With Wednesday's Workers' Day as a public holiday in South Africa and the odd launch date the day after, there's been no word from either MultiChoice that was asked, nor Newzroom Afrika about a possible press briefing about the news channel, or of a media launch event to mark its start on DStv as usually happens when new TV channels launch.

Newzroom Afrika will be available to all DStv subscribers from DStv Premium to DStv Access.

Amazon Prime Video rolls out Pistorius as a new 4-part documentary about the bladerunner-killer Oscar Pistorius' tragic fall and the Reeva Steenkamp court case drama.

Amazon Prime Video is adding a new 4-part documentary series, entitled Pistorius, available from Thursday 6 September in South Africa and 200 other countries, about the convicted killer Ocar Pistorius who gunned down his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.

Originally made as a feature film, Amazon Prime Video decided to split it as individual, hour-long episodes,produced out of over more than 2 000 hours of footage.

Pistorius, directed by Vaughan Sivell and produced over 3 years, explores the tragedy of the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, the events that led up to her death, and what happened afterwards.

Oscar Pistorius, currently in prison, was convicted of killing Reeva Steenkamp and in 2015 his conviction was changed from culpable homicide to murder and his prison sentence extended.

In Pistorius Vaughan Sivell got some exclusive access to some of the key characters who appeared during and around the trial that was played out on live television in South Africa, like for instance TV journalist Debora Patta; Aimee Pistorius, Oscar's sister; journalist Karyn Maughan, commentator David O'Sullivan, Oscar Pistorius' brother, cousin as well as aunt and uncles; his prosthetist and some neighbours; former team mates; forensic investigator David Klatzow; prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel; and defence lawyer Kelly Phelps, as well as others.

People like the Steenkamp family declined to be interviewed.

Pistorius was filmed in South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy with Kew Media that made a deal with Amazon Studios for Pistorius.

eNCA anchors Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine both resign in latest wave of high profile exits from the TV news channel.

e.tv insiders told TVwithThinus that both the veteran anchor Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine are leaving eNCA (DStv 403) in the latest wave of high profile exits rocking the South African TV news channel, with eMedia Investments confirming that both have resigned.

Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine's resignations come hot on the heels of eNCA's former star crime and court reporter Kary Maughan who left last month, and the shock exit of Debbie Meyers, the head of current affairs at eNCA and e.tv.

Meanwhile e.tv is also gutting its long running morning show Sunrise with plans to outsource its morning breakfast show that's been on the air since April 2008 to an outside production company, with shocked e.tv staffers who have been served retrenchment notices and are likely getting fired.

One insider described a situation where "morale is at an all time low and people are desperately searching for new jobs".

The highly respected Joanne Joseph has been anchoring the 16:00 to 18:00 timeslot on eNCA, and joined the Power FM radio station in February 2017. Her exit date from eNCA has not yet been finalized.

For Ayanda Allie-Paine its the second time she's leaving eNCA - this time after less than a year after she rejoined eNCA in May 2017 to anchor eNCA's new weekend morning programming strand, Weekend Wake Up on Saturdays and Sundays.

It's not clear who will replace her, or if Weekend Wake Up on eNCA is getting canned. Ayanda Allie-Paine's abrupt last appearance on eNCA will be over the coming Easter Weekend.

eNCA in response to a media enquiry says "eNCA can confirm that Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine have resigned to pursue new opportunities".

"Joanne has been with eNCA for almost nine years, anchoring various programmes during her tenure. As a consummate professional with over 20 years of experience, she has tirelessly helped lead the coverage of some of the most prominent news stories of the last decade," says eNCA.

"Joanne has made a valuable contribution to the channel," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief. "She is a formidable journalist, who has used her skills to help our viewers navigate through the key stories during a particularly turbulent period in our democracy."

eNCA says Ayanda-Allie Paine who re-joined eNCA last year "energising the channel’s Saturday and Sunday morning line-up with the Weekend Wake Up. Her dynamic interviewing style and keen journalistic skills have led to a number of memorable moments on the channel". 

"Ayanda-Allie has an infectious passion for news and development, which will be missed by her colleagues and our viewers," says Mapi Mhlangu. "We wish Ayanda and Joanne all the best in their future endeavours." 

Debbie Meyer, head of current affairs at eNCA and e.tv, leaving after nearly 17 years, says 'it's something I have been thinking about for a while'.

eNCA and e.tv is losing its head of current affairs, Debbie Meyer, as the next high-profile name who is exiting the eMedia Investments TV fold.

Her resignation comes at the same time as that of eNCA's star court and crime reporter Karyn Maughan whose last day at eNCA (DStv 403) is today.

While some eMedia Investment staffers said Debbie Meyer is leaving as part of a retrenchment deal, Meyer denies it and says it's her decision to leave and that she has been thinking about it for a while.

Debbie Meyer has been the executive producer of current affairs at eNCA and e.tv. e.tv was asked in an emailed media enquiry last week why Debbie Meyer is leaving and who will be replacing her, but didn't answer the question. 

Debbie Meyer told TVwithThinus that "after nearly 17 years at e.tv and eNCA, I have decided to move on to the next phase".

"I have loved working here, starting off as a producer on 3rd degree and then heading up current affairs. It’s something I have been thinking about for a while, and now that my youngest son has finished school, the timing seemed right."

Asked what she would be doing next, Debbie Meyer says "I will be taking a break for a few months, which will include some travel. After that, I’ll explore some freelance options".

"My journey here has been an incredible one, and I have worked on and started up some great shows – Late Nite News (LNN), Checkpoint, Backchat, Tech Report, Justice Factor to name a few. I will miss the heartbeat of this place a lot – it’s in my blood and been part of me for so many years."

eNCA star reporter Karyn Maughan, who gave viewers a courtside insider's view on court and crime news, resigns.

eNCA's star reporter Karyn Maughan is leaving South Africa's most watched 24-hour TV news channel TVwithThinus can reveal.

Karyn Maughan's exit from eNCA comes as a big blow to the channel, once again losing an extremely experienced reporter exiting its Hyde Park studio doors from where she gave viewers an unvarnished ringside seat to the country's court, crime and corruption dramas playing out in the news.

Sources revealed to me that eNCA's court coverer has had enough and is leaving the channel soon. No word yet from the few newserati who knew - and who are in shock - as to the precise reasons why.

Also not yet known: where exactly Karen Maughan is jumping to next.

TVwithThinus asked e.tv and eNCA who confirms that Karyn Maughan is leaving the news channel and says in a statement eNCA is sad to see her go.

"eNCA is sad to lose Karyn Maughan as a full time staff member," says eNCA in a statement in response to a media enquiry.

"Karyn has been a dedicated, astute and professional journalist covering some of the biggest news stories for eNCA over the past 8 years, including the Oscar Pistorius trial. However we are pleased to say that our relationship with Karyn will continue, with her appearing on-air in various capacities".

Karyn Maughan joined eNCA in 2010 and established herself as tenacious member of the elite front guard of South Africa's "must follow" reporters who are willing to take on and decimate the trash pack of feeble publicists, moron ministers and blocking spokespeople who stand in the way of the public getting answers.

Karyn Maughan's indefatigable courtside coverage bringing viewers all the lurid details both inside and outside of the Oscar Pistorius court trial cemented her place as a household name as far South Africa's small crop of famous TV news reporters go.

Since then the take-no-prisoners TV dragon slayer found, and successfully slayed, a new crop of trash TV characters who dared to sidestep and try and evade her piercing questions, for instance the department of social development's belligerent and clueless publicist Lumka Oliphant. 

Karyn Maughan hasn't been scared to sit as close as possible to the front at press briefings - often seen taking her seat in the front row to clobber whoever is designated to face the press, with her piercing questions.

Besides reporting, Karyn Maughan has also appeared more on eNCA on weekdays as well as weekends from early morning to prime time as a commentator the last 2 years, roped in to weigh in and to unpack and give more insight on high profile court and crime cases as well as government corruption stories.

'EXCLUSIVE!' Is eNCA's Karyn Maughan becoming South Africa's Connie Chung? Why eNCA is on a slippery slide to tawdry tabloid coverage.

"Just whisper it to me, just between you and me?"

Remember when America's Connie Chung on CBS leaned forward and exploited Newt Gingrich's mother in 1995 to tell her what he called Hillary Clinton? ("A bitch" the mother said.)

Well, it looks like eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Karyn Maughan is now becoming South Africa's Connie Chung as eNCA is starting to slide precipitously closer and closer to tabloid television and tawdry tabloid TV territory with salacious "personality" stories in the mold of Entertainment Tonight.

It is news, yes, but should eNCA do it?

The tabloid trash television markers are all over the eNCA story of Karyn Maughan interviewing the mom of slain rapper Flabba who, worthy of an Inside Edition segment, tells of the "threatening" Whatsapp messages girlfriend Manqele allegedly sent him before she killed him.

"She's gonna kill me," mourning mamma reveals to Karyn Maughan, billed as an "exclusive" - complete with exclamation mark - in a sensational profile story, the hallmark of tabloid entertainment news shows perfected in America like Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Extra.

Tabloid fodder - the more tawdry, trashy and tragic the better - is one of the ways TV news uses to try and juice the ratings, and now it seems eNCA is on the same slippery slide.

Yes, Karyn Maughan did extensive coverage of the Oscar Pistorius court case last year and she excelled at it.

In a story and ongoing TV narrative of that scope, length and with larger-than-life characters, you cannot help but focus on the various media characters, the minutiae of their personal lives and every morsel of scandal-riddled lives.

The danger would be, and is for TV news channels like eNCA, it's addictive nature. Channels like eNCA should try and stay away from that trough as far as possible. But it's difficult.

Once a shark has smelled the blood, something more akin to instinct takes over.

Last year Andrew Tyndall, who tracks American TV news, told The Hollywood Reporter how ABC's ABC World News Tonight has started to veer away from "real news" and try to lure and keep viewers in sneaky ways to stay tuned in.

Trashy tabloid coverage is TV news' version of sugar and of partially hydrogenated oil - oh so good tasting but not really good for you.

The problem is creates is one of credibility. What real news value does a story - exclusive! mind you - based on trashy Whatsapp messages, relayed by a grieving mother put on camera - have? And what does it to for eNCA's image and brand and news name over time?

Most journalists, especially broadcast journalists, secretly live for these kinds of lurid Connie Chung stories.

They're "easier" to do in a sense because you hook viewers by hooking a talking head who is essentially somewhat exploited (since they're not media savvy) into talking and saying things that will make a salacious, lovely sound byte for a day.

It's the "Barbara Walters interviewing Donald Sterling's girlfriend V Stiviano" type TV trash: people who don't fully comprehend what they're doing, nor the power of the media, but who willingly talk for a empty calorie tabloid story.

Full disclosure: I've done those stories too as a journalist. I've jumped on unsuspecting people who didn't realise what they were saying. I've called a mom about her son who've assaulted someone and she told me exactly what he told her. A front page, main headline banner story.

As a news editor I've sometimes told other journalists to pursue these stories, as well. Dad forgot his baby in the car who died? You want that interview! Someone close to someone famous has some words or message or keepsake or document and is willing to reveal it? You want to get it! First!

But it's trashy and stupid. And eNCA should know, and do, better.

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.

BREAKING. Oscar Pistorius murder trial of Reeva Steenkamp 'is going to be the OJ Simpson of South African judicial history,' says eNCA.

The Oscar Pistorius Reeva Steenkamp murder trial starting on 3 March and which could be televised will  be massive and "will is going to be the OJ Simpson of South African judicial history".

So says the eNCA (DStv 403) star court and specialist reporter Karyn Maughan who has covered the story since the shocking day on 14 February last year when the Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.

Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder.

Karyn Maughan produced the captivating and emotive half hour special report Reeva: The Model You Thought You Knew for eNCA.

The revealing and well-produced, must-see documentary is about Reeva Steenkamp's life, her upbringing in Port Elizabeth, the debilitating back accident that she suffered when she fell off a horse and almost saw her never walking again, the previous emotional abusive relationship that spurred her to speak out about the abuse against women, as well as the last few months of her life during which she was in a romantic relationship with Oscar Pistorius.

"It is an enormous trial. It is going to be the OJ Simpson of South African judicial history," said Karyn Maughan.

"It's going to be massive. It's going to be playing out to a global audience. My sense is it is going to be a very ugly trial. Oscar Pistorius' legal team regards it as a form of character assassination. The state regards it as an example of how erratic and emotional this person was".

"Reeva Steenkamp was really an exceptional woman," said Karyn Maughan. "Her warmth, her determination, her resilience - you get a fuller picture of who she was" in the documentary.

"Reeva Steenkamp was an FHM model but she was far more than that. She utilised her beauty to get where she wanted to in life. There's a very big difference in the world between someone who consciously seeks fame, and someone who wants to have influence. And I think she was the second, and that very much comes through in this documentary."

For the emotional documentary, Karyn Maughan spent time in Port Elizabeth, spoke to close friends who were moved to tears talking about Reeva Steenkamp, found footage of the aspiring model as a 20 year old contestant in Miss Port Elizabeth, as well as people who spoke to her in the last days of her life.

Close friend Phuti Khomo revealed in the documentary that Reeva Steenkamp told her just before she died that Reeva Steenkamp's relationship with Oscar Pretorius "became overwhelming" and that it "took a toll on the relationship".

Reeva Steenkamp made no secret of wanting to be on television and having a TV career. She came a step closer when she was a contestant in the fifth season of Tropika Island of Treasure.

The show was already filmed before she died. The production company, Clover and SABC1 went ahead and broadcast Tropika Island of Treasure just days after Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed.

BREAKING. eNCA special documentary, Reeva Steenkamp: The Model You Thought You Knew, on Wednesday at 20:00.

You're reading it here first. 

eNCA (DStv 403) will broadcast a special must-see documentary, Reeva: The Model You Thought You Knew, this Wednesday, 12 February, at 20:00 about the model and reality star girlfriend of the paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius who he gunned down and killed on Valentines Day in 2013.

A year after Reeva Steenkamp's death and with the premeditated murder trial looming for Oscar Pistorius, eNCA's star court and specialist reporter Karyn Maughan takes a look at the real Reeva Steenkamp.

Karyn Maughan worked on the special for almost a year, which includes never before seen footage of Reeva Steenkamp's life before she met Oscar Pistorius, as well as an account of what took place in the days leading up to her death.

"So much of the focus has been on Oscar Pistorius. eNCA felt it was important to take a long look at Reeva and bring her life to light," says Karyn Maughan. "She was much more than just the victim in this case, she was a very special person and touches many lives."

Oscar Pistorius is due in court on 3 March to stand trial for the killing and claims that he thought he was shooting an intruder.

Besides Wednesday's broadcast, Reeva: The Model You Thought You Knew will be repeated on eNCA on Friday 14 February at 18:30 and Sunday, 16 February at 17:00.

Reeva: The Model You Thought You Knew will also be shown on e.tv on Monday 17 February at 20:30.

eNCA will try to do live court coverage of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial and judgement.

You're reading it here first. 

The eNCA (DStv 403) will try to bring South African viewers live court coverage of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial which has gripped not only South Africa but also a worldwide audience since the sensational news broke this past Thursday that he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Silver Woods Estate.

Oscar Pistorius is set to appear in court again tomorrow, Tuesday, with broadcasters and media who were not allowed to show any footage or do any live broadcast of the actual court proceedings of the bail application on Friday.

On Friday when Oscar Pistorius first appeared in court for a bail hearing after a charge of murder of killing Reeva Steenkamp, the eNCA's legal affairs reporter Karyn Maughan made a request for the eNCA (and by implication all media) to cover the court proceedings live and directly.

The SABC which unlike the eNCA doesn't have a 24-hour news channel but could possibly stream the court trial proceedings live online on the SABC News website, requested the court that if it wasn't possible to broadcast live, that the public broadcaster wanted to record before and after the proceedings.

It's unlikely that Tuesday's bail application hearing will be shown live on South African television, but media and news platforms such as the eNCA are going to try to give live coverage of the eventual court case.

The eNCA tells me that the 24-hour news channel will make a submission to cover the Oscar Pistorius trial and judgement. "However given the fluid nature of the bail proceedings we'll abide by the magistrate's ruling on this matter. He acted in the interest of justice and we respect that," says Patrick Conroy, the group head of news at the eNCA.

There have been great strides in recent years in getting the courts to acknowledge the importance of electronic media. I'm confident this will continue. We are also mindful that media applications to broadcast court proceedings can lead to delays which we would want to avoid as much as possible," says Patrick Conroy.

"Television coverage of our courts must assist in the judicial process being seen to be fair and effective. However on occasion we will have to take a step back when attempts to cover proceedings could lead to delays or complications in the judicial process."