e.tv and eNCA again looking to cut its Cape Town newsroom staff further; 'operational duplication' could see NewsDay, eNews Direct, Zulu news shed staff.

e.tv and its sister TV news channel eNCA on DStv is again looking to cut its Cape Town newsroom staff further.

The latest round of possible eNews staff cuts comes after eNCA's dramatic staff downsizing just a year ago in April 2015.

2016 has not been kind to South African electronic news gathering journalists.

e.tv and eNCA's plan that will likely lead to the retrenchment of Cape Town based staffers, follows after the beleaguered SABC fired 8 journalists in July and were ordered by the Labour Court to reinstate seven of them.

Meanwhile the struggling Gupta-owned news channel ANN7 on DStv continues to fire journalists - first 8 in June and then another 5 in July - for having partaken in a public protest. The journalists were ordered to disciplinary hearings with reasons like "wasting water - a precious resource".

Sources told TVwithThinus that "everybody in the Cape Town newsroom must reapply for their jobs, except journalists and cameramen".

According to sources staffers will get letters on Thursday, with a senior manager set to meet with e.tv and eNCA's Cape Town staffers on Friday.

The continued pressure to downsizing e.tv and eNCA's Cape Town eNews staff is part of a bigger trend that started and followed when Marcel Golding, the former CEO of e.tv and eNCA resigned and was jettisoned together with his wife, COO Bronwyn Keene-Young in October 2014.

Marcel Golding spearheaded and launched eNews on e.tv in January 1999 specifically headquartered from Cape Town to help bring South Africans another, more independent perspective on the news away from the SABC's Auckland Park, and then launched eNCA (then called the eNews Channel) on MultiChoice's DStv in June 2008.

With Marcel Golding gone who stood in the breach as the buffer who loved and fiercely protected his news creations, a corporate dismantling process began that's more concerned about eMedia Investment's bottom-line profits than the protection of the storied news brands, and which keeps chipping away at eNews and especially its Cape Town operations where everything started.

Earlier this year in April e.tv shocked when it announced that it will be lobbying the broadcasting regulator for permission to dump all news in prime time, saying that TV news on e.tv during prime time is not a revenue generator.

Mark Rosin, eMedia Investments' group chief operating officer (COO) went as far as saying that if e.tv is forced to broadcast news during prime time, it will cause "serious revenue challenges".

Now eMedia Investments is again looking at cutting staff in Cape Town, saying the current structure of its technical operations departments and some editorial sections of news programming broadcast from Cape Town is "complicated" and creates "operational and management difficulties as well as duplication in the business".

eMedia Investments isn't saying why the Cape Town side of its technical operations where e.tv and eNCA just recently moved into a newly constructed building costing millions, has been targeted for staff adjustments and not Johannesburg.

The programmes NewsDay on eNCA, eNews Direct on e.tv done from both Cape Town and Johannesburg and the Zulu news on e.tv all partly coordinated and broadcast from Cape Town are all impacted and will likely shed staff.

eMedia Investments says "the current function is spread across two cities and two companies; Johannesburg and Cape Town, e.tv and eNCA".

"It is critical for a restructure to happen, however no decision has been made, and will not be made without open, honest and full consultation with employees who may be impacted. e.tv and eNCA are committed to ensuring that employees are treated fairly through this difficult process".

How e.tv's once lofty ideals to give South Africans TV news and an alternative, turned into an apparent exercise of hate and loathing.

Image from the commemorative book, e: The First 10 Years

The steady and continued dismantling and downsizing at e.tv and eNCA (DStv 403) of its news ideals and news brand is shocking and should be a great concern for South African television viewers who should not only demand, but deserve better.

With Marcel Golding and Bronwyn Keene-Young gone in the bloody palace coup at e.tv, the most important two people who stood in the breach to protect, fight for, and champion eNews, eNCA and e.tv's news division are now standing on the outside, looking in, as they watch their once esteemed news child systematically being reduced and diluted since the end of 2014.

Sabido, eMedia Investments and e.tv executives are now very clearly signaling that what they don't care for anymore is news. What they do care for, is the bottom-line - especially since e.tv is millions of rands behind and below revenue projections.

The easy scapegoat is its news product.

With e.tv that wants to dump its news bulletin outside of prime time, e.tv executives can't be any clearer about the "value" - or lack of any - it places on producing and broadcasting news, ironically in an election year.

E.tv's apparent disdain with which it now views the "onerous" burden of having to give its viewers news instead of more EFC, Anaconda movie schlock fare and Fanny by Gaslight reruns is now in the open.

The gutted eNCA (DStv 403) where the bloodletting is continuing unabated has been a ghost of its former glory for over a year now and counting.

eNCA closed all its foreign news bureaus, its lofty UK broadcasting plan is in tatters, and there's the massive ongoing exodus of highly prized, excellent and experienced on-air talent who keep leaving - both forced out the door and fired, as well as people on-screen and behind the camera who've simply quit because they've had enough.

eNCA's Africa dreams got grounded and ebbed away when it dumped its entire African division.

eNCA canned its African bulletin and magazine shows, cancelled the majority of its once carefully build-up current affairs shows and dramatically enlarged the repeats on its "24-hour" schedule where a lot of hours that were previously "live" are now rebroadcasts.

eNews, e.tv's original TV news bulletin, Frankenstein-ed into its shocking latest trash television iteration called eNews Direct that has lost any semblance to its former pedigree, including anchors, news values and format, is likewise a visual fossil record of how a once respected and trusted brand is seemingly deliberately being snuffed off.

When eNews Live at 7 started on e.tv at 19:00 on 17 January 1999 it was a breath of fresh air. e.tv did the news from its Longkloof Studios in Cape Town. It said it wanted to be different; to give another perspective. (What happened to that ideal?)

San Reddy didn't wear a tie. He and Jane Dutton leaned on tables instead of sitting behind anchor desks. And within 18 months, eNews became the English language evening news bulletin of preference.

Now e.tv doesn't want to to do that anymore and doesn't feel it has a responsibility - as required by its broadcasting licence - to provide a half hour news bulletin nightly in prime time to South African viewers.

e.tv has tinkered and steadily broken its eNews bulletin by moving it around and away from 19:00 - and now complaining that viewers fled. It's like deliberately erecting a jumping castle in the rain and then saying you won't do it again for future birthday parties because the children are mysteriously absent.

Something that e.tv had built up as an upstart the hard way, over almost 2 decades through the very hard work of a dedicated team - it's eNews brand - the new men of the e.tv empire is willing to simply spin-off and cast aside, instead of working harder to fix what wasn't broken and to restore it to what it was and can still, and again, be.

It's easy to forget, or not to know, how drastically e.tv already destroyed the news offering it used to have.

For perspective: e.tv used to have the eNews Early Edition, eNews Prime Time at 19:00 and then eNews Late Edition. Both the early eNews Early Edition and the eNews Late Edition got cancelled with nothing in its place.

The news was pushed from 19:00 where it did very well, and damaged and damaged some more, to get to the lobotomised hybrid-madness of the current eNews Direct.

With eNews - or more precisely "eNews Direct" shunted out of e.tv's prime time, it would literally mean that tens of millions of viewers will only have access once again to the SABC's SABC News broadcasts in prime time.

It would also signal that ordinary South Africans are not "allowed", "good enough" or "deserve" commercially produced free-to-air TV news.

It would mean that only South Africans who can pay for TV news other than the news from the public broadcaster, can get access to it through pay-TV like on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

That is very wrong - and an abhorrent signal to send, especially from a TV broadcaster who got its broadcasting licence in the first place by saying it will target and service the rising black middle class in South Africa.

One wonders what journalism's Prof. Anton Harber, now the editor-in-chief of eNCA, thinks of this.
UPDATE Thursday 14 April 2016 - I heard directly from Prof. Anton Harber who wrote to me, and asked that I please publish his letter. He says my suggestion that this is e.tv dumping its news, is misleading.
"News may shift around and change and we live in a world in which news consumption is changing radically but we are more committed than ever to ensure our news meets audience needs and is of the highest quality." Please read his entire letter here.



If e.tv gets to dump its main news bulletin from its prime time line-up, it would be a massive step for what it audience and what e.tv's audience deserves, for South Africa, and for the local news and TV news industry.

TV news in prime time means prominence. It means it matters. It's agenda setting. Besides just what it communicates, it also says to viewers that the news and it being there, matters to all of our daily lives as citizens in a democratic society.

Viewers can't just watch WWE wrestling and The Young and the Restless. Viewers also need to be informed.

e.tv now wants to tart up its already empty carbo laced schedule further with (more) vapid eye-ball grabbing entertainment and advertiser-funded production TV trash.

e.tv is like an irresponsible parent whose kids already eat Happy Meals seven days a week, now saying: "It's okay, you don't need to eat the slice of apple. In fact, I will replace it daily with a box of Astro's although more unhealthy - because its less effort, easier and above all, so much cheaper".

Responsible parents know that part of being adult and mature means that the popular choice is not always the right decision; that part of being grown-up means making difficult decisions to do what is better and right, although its harder.

e.tv surely knows that wanting to dump its news out of prime time is irresponsible and a "bad" thing for its image and for South Africa.

Yet, because on paper the numbers and savings, and the revenue it could potentially earn from more Gold Diggers instead of eNews Direct, makes "good" business, it's willing to sacrifice what it should be doing, for what it wants to be doing for the sake of more money.

Even a public commercial TV broadcaster like e.tv that's a business instead of a public broadcaster like the SABC still has a level of civic duty, a type of social responsibility towards its viewers.

Even more Astro's to replace the already small slice of apple on its prime time plate, is definitely not the diet change that e.tv, nor South Africa, needs.

BREAKING. e.tv, eNCA in chaotic management meltdown; broadcaster plunged into chaos as COO Bronwyn Keene-Young resigns.

The South African free-to-air broadcaster e.tv is plunging deeper and deeper into a massive management meltdown and its biggest existential reputational and credibility crisis ever as its decade long chief operating officer (COO) Bronwyn Keene-Young also suddenly resigned this morning.

e.tv and eNCA (DStv 403) are shocked while Bronwyn Keene-Young, who've been with e.tv for 15 years - 10 of which as COO and then lately as "chief corporate officer" - is following her husband Marcel Golding out the door who abruptly quit as CEO on Monday.

Marcel Golding, Bronwyn Keene-Young and e.tv chairperson John Copelyn founded e.tv as a difficult start-up which they've grown to a successful South African TV business but now Bronwyn Keene-Young who is taking years of TV experience with her, is slamming John Copelyn saying that he "doesn't understand that it is Marcel's vision, which has driven us to the success we enjoy today and that he believes that he can destroy Marcel's legacy".

Marcel Golding claims political interference with e.tv and its news brands eNews and eNCA, and now Bronwyn Keene-Young, married to Marcel Golding, slams John Copelyn confirming what Marcel Golding says.

Bronwyn Keene-Young writes that "John Copelyn doesn't tell you that he has told our exco that eNCA's news coverage is 'problematic' for Hosken Consolidated Investments' other interest and that our news had to be reined in so that it didn't affect HCI's ability to source gambling licences from government".

Bronwyn Keene-Young writes that "John Copelyn is silent on how he has attempted to manipulate this company from behind the scenes".

"He fails to tell that earlier this year, when I resisted editorial instructions from Yunis Shaik, he [John Copelyn] sought my removal from the company. After pushback from our exco, he agreed to let me stay on provided that I was sidelined into a new position in which news no longer reported to me."

"Copelyn doesn't tell you that he told me that the line of editorial independence was not one for the news editorial team to determine and nor was it for Sabido management to determine. That line would be determined by HCI."

"Copelyn doesn't tell you that he was fully aware of the 'Ellies shares' matter from early August and that he did nothing about it until early October until all other attempts and threats to get Marcel to resign had failed."

"He doesn't tell you that throughout this period, each time Marcel refused to acquiesce to Copelyn's demands and 'go quietly', that Marcel was threatened with disciplinary action on the Ellies matter.

"He doesn’t tell you that only in early October – a full two months after Copelyn had become aware of the details of the Ellies matter – did he raise this as a disciplinary issue with Marcel and all of a sudden the Ellies issue became serious enough for HCI to suspend Marcel for 'gross misconduct' and for Copelyn to lock Marcel out of his office."

"In his letter, Copelyn has gone to great lengths to misrepresent the facts and to hide his own unacceptable behavior in this entire matter. He does not understand this company, its people, and its DNA, and he never will."

"He does not understand the depth of love and loyalty, which staff have to a CEO who has carried them for 15 years from virtual bankruptcy to great success."

The shocking top management infighting and resignations has rocked e.tv and eNCA and engulfed e.tv, eNews and eNCA in a reputational and credibility crisis which is tarnishing e.tv, eNews and eNCA's news reputations and seriously denting not only e.tv's brand but also how viewers are now going to perceive eNCA's news coverage.

BREAKING. Suspended e.tv boss Marcel Golding alleges government political interference in eNews and eNCA news coverage.

The suspended e.tv boss Marcel Golding says his suspension is the result of government political interference in news coverage on e.tv's eNews and eNCA (DStv 403).

Marcel Golding alleges in filed court papers to block his shocking suspension which took place this week, that his suspension is partially the result of behind-the-scenes corporate and political infighting in which Hosken Consolidated Investment's TV channel e.tv and its news division eNews and 24-TV news channel eNCA were pressured to cover positive ANC news.

The political pressure for certain news coverage allegedly followed after e.tv's lobbying process of the government to take e.tv's side of the ongoing, and unresolved, battle over set-top box (STB) control for decoders when South Africa eventually switches from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting (DTT).

In an affidavit lodged with the Cape Town Labourt Court, Marcel Golding details how he was "forced out" due to the trade union SACTWU who first sidelined his wife, Bronwyn-Keene-Young who is e.tv's chief  operating officer (COO), when she allegedly resisted and rebuked a direct instruction to do political news coverage from an ANC minister.

The pressure allegedly comes from HCI director Yunis Shaik, the brother of Schabir Shaik.

Marcel Golding alleges that a technical transaction with Ellies is now being used to try and force him out. He says the disciplinary hearing "has been launched after months of attempts to get me to relinquish the chair of the board of HCI and resign as CEO of e.tv and Sabido as a result of my refusal to permit e.tv to be used for political purposes by a trade union that is invested in the group".

In his affidavit Marcel Golding alleges that "SACTWU has persistently attempted to influence the editorial direction of eNews in order to further its agenda".

"On 24 March 2014 Yunis Shaik addressed an email to Bronwyn Keene-Young stating that the minister of economic development Ebrahim Patel had called him and asked that a supplied news feed of president Jacob Zuma opening a dam be aired on the e.tv evening news. It should be noted that this request was made four days after the Public Protector's report into Nkandla was made public."

"Bronwyn Keene-Young and I were at a conference and unavailable to respond. Shaik therefore, after receiving another call from minister Patel assumed the responsibility to liaise with Patrick Conroy, the managing director of eNCA."

"On 24 March Bronwyn Keene-Young replied to Shaik's email and explained the inappropriateness of Shaik's conduct to him in the context of news integrity and appealed to him to never make this kind of request directly to our managers," says Marcel Golding.

On 29 April 2014 Marcel Golding says in his affidavit that Shaik contacted Bronwyn Keene-Young again, again over a debate due to be held between Ebrahim Patel and the opposition party at the University of the Witwatersrand.

"Patel asked that a clip of an earlier Reserve Bank meeting be aired during the debate. The clip would be supplied and Patel evidently believed it showed the opposition party was incorrect in certain statements it had made regarding the Reserve Bank."

"On 19 May 2014 I received another text message from Shaik. This time it was about the possible mention of another HCI affiliate, Tsogo Sun: 'Maggs on Media. He will feature a story on gabmling addiction. See the story before he airs it. Watch the visuals. It would be terrible if he features Tsogo. Check to see if it is balanced and includes activities we take for responsible gambling."

Marcel Golding states in his affidavit that on 14 August 2014 he was sent the following SMS by Andre Kriel of SACTWU: "Will call you tomorrow. Violet Seboni Memorial lecture will be on 25 August in Johannesburg. Minister Patel will deliver the lecture. We require e.tv to cover it live. Please arrange."

"I was also threatened that should I not resign I would be suspended and disciplined on account of my purchase of Ellies shares - the subject matter of the impending disciplinary hearing."

"I believed Ellies was strategically sound to invest in. I saw such an investment as a strategic investment for one of our key Sabido subsidiaries which is struggling to meet its targets [Platco Digital's OpenView HD]."

"The subsidiary is a free-to-air satellite platform which is dependent on the distribution - by Ellies - of set-top boxes [STBs]."

Marcel Golding in his affidavit says that his understanding is that "SACTWU [wants] to exert greater control over news content at e.tv and eNCA by ensuring a CEO less independent than me assumes control over Sabido," and that he believes that it "is directly related to the pursuance of an agenda to exert greater control over news content aired by e.tv and its related broadcasters."

"In opposing the attempts to manipulate news content I have been acting to protect the rights of editorial staff to run an independent news service," says Marcel Golding's affidavit.

BREAKING. e.tv boss Marcel Golding suspended over alleged serious 'gross misconduct'; disciplinary hearing scheduled for Monday 27 October.

e.tv boss Marcel Golding has been immediately suspended over allegations of "gross misconduct" according to Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI).

Marcel Golding will face a disciplinary hearing into the gross misconduct allegations on Monday 27 October, while he is apparently trying to block his suspension.

The charges against Marcel Golding were "found to be of a very serious nature warranting disciplinary action," says HCI in a statement.

Marcel Golding's shocking suspension is the second high-level, high-profile suspension within South Africa's TV industry, following that of Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for TV channels.

Marcel Golding, a former trade unionist, has been the executive chairperson of HCI since 1997 and has been a prominent figure in South Africa's television industry, outspoken about the country's looming, and long-delayed and far behind schedule switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

HCI is the holding company of the media group subsidiary, Sabido Investments, which owns the commercial free-to-air TV channel e.tv, 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403), Sasani Studios and Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD).

HCI refuses to say why Marcel Golding was suspended and is unwilling to give reasons, saying that "HCI will take such steps as are necessary to protect its interests".

BREAKING. e.tv officially unveils its additional 4 further '+' channels, says 'viewers have inspired us to think beyond having just one channel'.

You're seeing it here first. 

Here's the channel logo's of the four new TV channels from the e.tv stable - eKasi+, eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+  - which e.tv officially launched at a press event tonight in Johannesburg and which will start broadcasting from 15 October on Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD).

e.tv as a broadcaster is launching eKasi+,eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+ as new sister channels as the first of its planned set of TV channels for digital terrestrial television (DTT). e.tv, the SABC and M-Net plan to each roll out their own collections of additional TV channels in South Africa eventually.

Since government incompetence and industry infighting has long-delayed the digital switch-over process known as digital migration, e.tv is launching its first 4 additional free-to-air TV channels on OpenView HD, although the channels will become publicly available to all viewers once DTT starts.

e.tv, tired, frustrated and becoming increasingly scared over it's inability to grow its potential market share and possible diminishing returns on its existing market which could evaporate in the face of ongoing TV channel and audience fragmentation in South Africa, decided to no longer wait for DTT but to forge ahead and start launching its additional channels.

The commercial e.tv is currently boxed in between the aspirational pay-TV services from M-Net, M-M-Net's growing number of "Mzansi" themed TV channels targeting South Africa's growing middle class black viewers, and MultiChoice's general DStv pay-TV offering all on the one side; and the bulk but bad and cheap SABC on the other side which isn't making or having to make a profit and is too big to fail, getting government bail-outs.

e.tv is now gearing up to unashamedly gun for Mzansi's black viewers - aspirational, upmarket black viewers in South Africa who are tired of the SABC's shoddy service as a public broadcaster but who haven't yet switched to pay television, or wants more better alternatives despite the current available choices on offer through DStv and TopTV.

Sabido is pumping millions into the start-up of the new additional e.tv channels branded "+" which, just like when e.tv started 15 years ago, will launch with an initial viewership of zero on 15 October, although the 24 hour schedules will have to be populated and paid for in local content production and licensing fees of international content. 

e.tv and On Digital Media (ODM) have had discussions to add the four new channels to TopTV which so far has proved fruitless. It's not clear when,or if, the four hew e.tv channels will be added to MultiChoice's DStv platform.

eToonz+, eKasi+, eAfrica+ and eMovies+ will go live on 15 October at 17:00 in South Africa on OVHD.

"This marks a real breakthrough for e.tv and we are delighted to give our highly valued viewers this multi-channel offering," says Marcel Golding, the CEO of Sabido Investments, e.tv's holding company.

"It will expand their choices and afford them control over their viewing experience. The channels will be an authentic platform for the film and television industry kep players to explore the best of what our continent has to offer."

Marcel Golding promises that eKasi+, a local content TV channel, will have "a high percentage of new South African TV content, tailor-made to appeal specifically to the inhabitants of South Africa's lively townships".

eKasi+ will broadcast shows such as talk show Ek Se (Let's Talk), Number Numba, Kasi My Kasi, Gumba Gumba, Kasi-licious, Shadows and Behind the Gospel.

eKasi+ will carry Nguni news at 20:00, as well as soaps, African drama series, African American movies, sitcoms, reality and game shows and will aggressively be going after the same target market as SABC1, as well as M-Net's Mzansi Magic and other "Mzansi" branded channels recently rolled out on MultiChoice's DStv.

As TV with Thinus reported earlier this month, Khanyi Mbau and Masechaba Lekalake will both host their own TV talk shows on eKasi+,  which will also see stars such as chef Katlego Mlambo and singer Ntombi Mzolo.

eMovies+ will run local and international movies, both recent and classic, says e.tv. eMovies+ will broadcast 24 hours per day with various genres including sci-fi, horror, romance, family adventures and golden oldies.

eAfrica+ will show Nollywood movies, African news, music, dramas and talk shows.

eToonz+ is a dedicated children's channel.

"e.tv has matured over the years and has seen a growth in viewership as a result of our ability to provide entertaining programming that promotes diversity," says Monde Twala, the e.tv group head of channels.

"Viewers have inspired us to think beyond just having one channel. The aim is to provide viewers with content that inspires, educates and encourages South Africans to be active citizens."

The red letter e.tv main channel will meanwhile switch to a high definition (HD) feed from October, although its not clear whether MultiChoice's will upgrade e.tv to e.tv HD on DStv. e.tv will however be seen as an HD channel on OVHD from 15 October on that platform.

e.tv says most locally commissioned TV content will be produced and delivered in HD format from October and that more original HD content will be phased in "over a period, across all themed channels".

e.tv chooses Sentech as the signal distributor for its set of digital e.tv TV channels once digital terrestrial television (DTT) starts in South Africa.

The South African free-to-air broadcaster e.tv has chosen Sentech as the signal distributor for its set of digital e.tv TV channels once the long-delayed switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT) eventually starts in South Africa.

e.tv says it has signed a memorandum of understanding to appoint Sentech to provide signal distribution services for its digital terrestrial television services.

The SABC as South Africa's public broadcaster also uses the parastatal signal distributor for its current analogue broadcasts and will also be using Sentech to broadcast its digital TV channel collection when DTT starts.

"Sentech has invested significantly in the national DTT roll-out and has developed a considered vision for the future of free-to-air television on all platforms," says Marcel Golding, the group CEO of e.tv.

e.tv plans to launch "multiple new TV channels" on the DTT platform.

Marcel Golding says e.tv will "move quickly to launch our new TV channels when the performance period for digital migration is announced".

e.tv will continue to - as will the SABC - broadcast their existing analogue channels once DTT is switched on for a period of time known as "dual illumination" while TV viewers are encouraged to switch over to set-top boxes (STBs) which can receive the new digital TV signals.

CCTV News and CCTV Africa hard at work at building positive perceptions through television news of China and Africa.

China is flexing its media muscle in Africa and continues to grow its influence on Africa's television viewers and strengthening Sino-African perceptions through its CCTV News (DStv 409) channel which is giving constant, and overtly positive coverage to, and of, African stories.

It's also visible through bigger profile coverage on other TV sources such as South Africa's eNCA (DStv 403) channel.

Other 24-hour international news channels and international media platforms have remained slow and reluctant to cover Africa - or mostly keep with outdated stereotypical images of starving African children beset with flies, poverty, war and hopelessness.

CCTV News's African division, CCTV Africa is now pro-actively busy with changing the television news agenda of how Africa's stories and coverage is framed.

CCTV Africa, with its headquarters based in Nairobi, Kenia, is working hard on a transformative television news experience when it comes to covering the continent and by showing mostly positive profiles and TV news stories which are more balanced and less negative.

A year ago CCTV in partnership with MultiChoice, the Africa continent's biggest pay-TV platform, started the Great Wall bouquet - a separate Chinese channels bouquet with channels provided by China's state-run China Central Television (CCTV).

It was also a year ago that CCTV News started the daily dedicated hour long show Africa Live, providing viewers across Africa on CCTV News with news coverage, profile stories as well as breaking and leading news stories of the day of about what is happening in Africa as the CCTV Africa production office came into operation.

Besides the daily Africa Live, CCTVN has Talk Africa, the weekly talk and current affairs show with presenter Beatrice Marshall.

There also the documentary strand, Faces of Africa, on CCTV News which is a profile documentary series chronicling African leaders and positive role models like a female pilot in Ghana for instance.

Although CCTV Africa is headquarted in East Africa with a production staff of now almost 70 people, CCTV Africa and CCTV News has aggressive expansion plans. CCTV Africa is on an ambitious roll-out plan for new news bureaux across the continent.

Guy Henderson who worked for the BBC and was at Al Jazeera is for instance already based in South Africa as a correspondent for CCTV Africa.

South Africa's 24-hour news channel eNCA (DStv 403) also got into the act with extremely positive Sino-Africa media relations, marked by breathless reporting this past week with eNCA's John Bailey who conducted an "exclusive" interview with China's new president Xi Jinping.

The eNCA was quick to stress that it was "granted the first international TV interview" with Xi Jinping "ahead of other 24-hour news networks".

Th e.tv and Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) publicity machine also went into overdrive to show Marcel Golding, the CEO of Sabido Investments (owner of e.tv and the eNCA) getting facetime with (and a photo-op!) with Xi Jinping in Beijing two weeks ago.

China which is heavily investing in Africa in order to secure energy and oil contracts as well as other resources for its own booming economy, is now ramping up its media relations, media coverage of Africa, and its media intercontinental ties with the continent, as part of that economic growth strategy.

As China's hunger for African resources grow to help supply its own energy demands, CCTV News is helping by building and fostering a positive image of China through not only portraying China positively through the state-run television news organisation, but also putting more of Africa's untold stories in a positive light.

That has the double-barrel effect of not only making Africa look good and China look good, but strengthening the overall relationship and business ties between African countries and China.

It's also giving viewers stories - and framing the continent - in a way never really seen before on television news about Africa before, interestingly being told by China and not by Africa itself.

BREAKING. e.tv, M-Net warn about digital terrestrial television disaster, says current broadcasters need more guaranteed digital spectrum space.

e.tv - and M-Net which tells me the pay-TV broadcaster fully concur on this issue - are extremely concerned and worried about the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa as it pertains to the draft Frequency Migration Plan which they say presents major stumbling blocks.

All the existing South African broadcasters have seen their originally allocated space of digital spectrum, constantly being whittled away with every new set of draft digital migration regulations constantly being issued and later reissued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Icasa, far behind on creating and finally solidifying the regulatory framework into law of the country's digital terrestrial television dispensation for the TV broadcasting industry, held another hearing on the frequency migration plans yesterday. South African broadcasters - both the SABC as public broadcaster as well as commercial broadcasters such as the free-to-air e.tv and the pay-TV broadcaster M-Net, and fledgling community TV stations across the country have rallied against the proposed changes.

They're hugely concerned that Icasa has not adequately addressed the implications of frequency migration, as well as numerous other DTT issues in South Africa. South Africa is supposed to switch, but is very far behind, from analogie broadcasting to digital broadcasting, a process known as digital migration.

South African broadcasters are particularly concerned at the absence of any policy inquiry into the future needs of terrestrial broadcasting and the implications for the business.

"Given the significant impact such a plan would have on the business of free-to-air broadcasters, e.tv would expect the plan to be carefully developed," says Marcel Golding, CEO of e.tv.

"A major concern is that Icasa is proposing the large-scale migration of TV broadcasters from the spectrum bands in which they have assignments without having considered the future spectrum needs of the TV industry or compensation for affected broadcasters".

"Free-to-air broadcasters face the prospect of losing highly valuable spectrum without being compensated. Without defined entitlements after analogue switch-off, broadcasters will be thrown into an environment where they are unable to explore additional services such as HD, 3D and compete against TV-like services delivered over new technologies," says Marcel Golding.

"e.tv continues to support the migration to DTT, as it will offer a variety of new and exciting services," sayasys the broadcaster, "but e.tv is of the view that, following analogue switch-off, it must be guaranteed at least one full DTT multiplex to replicate its position in the analogue environment."

"For the industry to benefit as a whole, e.tv recommends that Icasa make it clear that the rights of existing analogue broadcasters, insofar as the digital dividend is concerned, will be considered at a later stage in a separate consultative process."

M-Net's Karen Willenberg, the head of regulatory affairs at M-Net told me that e.tv correctly reflects the position which was agreed in the Digital Migration Working Group.

"The working group report stipulates that each migrating broadcaster should be allocated at least one full multiplex in return for the licensed frequencies which they will hand back to Icasa at the end of dual illumination."

"Although this was not possible during dual illumination - because of the limited amount of frequency available - we endorse the view that Icasa must guarantee each migrating broadcaster at least one full multiplex after analogue switch-off. The issue of further spectrum allocations to migrating broacasters should be properly considered and address," says Karen Willenberg.

JINGLE WELLS. e.tv staffers getting a 14th cheque ... since next year there won't a 13th bonus cheque.

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I was told a week or so ago that e.tv group CEO Marcel Golding decided to spread some extra cheer this Christmas: e.tv staffers are apparently getting a 14th cheque this year - an extra one above the 13th cheque (which is the usual end-of-year) bonus.

But don't get too happy. The additional 14th cheque given to e.tv staffers are because there won't be a bonus 13th cheque next year. I'm told by sources that workers at the commercial free-to-air broadcaster was informed that the extra ching-ching cheer is because money will be tight next year.

Due to the commercial introduction and launch of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa from mid-2012 which will see broadcasters launch additional digital television channels, e.tv is telling personnel that the huge investment in this switch-over is going to come at a price. e.tv will have to pump a lot of money as capital expenditure into infrastructure, content cost and operations expansion next year.

I asked e.tv to please confirm the news about the 14th cheque given to e.tv staffers.

''e.tv doesn't comment on employees' salaries and benefits in the media,'' says Vasili Vass, e.tv's group head of corporate affairs.

BREAKING. e.tv warns government on digital terrestrial television: 'New spectrum tampering is going to ghetto-ize free TV for the masses.'

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e.tv's group CEO Marcel Golding warned/implored parliament that ''new tampering with the spectrum allocation is going to ghetto-ize free TV for masses of people in this country.''

Marcel Golding appeared before parliament's portfolio committee on communications and the hearings into digital TV migration in which South Africa is lagging behind. South Africa is risking falling further behind after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) indicated that it wants to amend the digital migration policy for the country again, with possible spectrum allocation changes.

''Working people also have ambitions to have better TV's with higher definition. It is certainly going to be the standard as time unfolds. Why cut our spectrum? There's should be sufficient spectrum available after the digital dividend is assessed, of whether spectrum should be kept for new entrants if and when a market study has been done that indicates that it's viable for those businesses to be established,'' Marcel Golding said.

''We can't make those decisions today, we need more experience to do that. We appeal to Icasa to leave the regulations for now so that we can all proceed. We're not saying there shouldn't be new TV entrants. We're saying all this is leading to a delay.''

''And while we're moving into a delay, masses of people in this country are being denied multichannel television because there are individual groups who want TV stations. From e.tv's side we want to be cosntructive. We want to make digital terrestrial television (DTT) work for the country. A lot of these things are not what we wanted but we're doing it and supporting it because we think that's what government wants.''

e.tv and M-Net doing brilliant work with South Africa's process of digital TV migration; says ''DVB-T is the right choice for South Africa.''

Both e.tv and M-Net are doing simply terrific work (despite huge uncertainty, a tedious government and several regulatory setbacks) in forging ahead with South Africa's process of switching over from analogue TV broadcasts to digital broadcasts, a process known as ''digital migration'' that will result in digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The two commercial broadcasters - the free to air e.tv and pay channel M-Net - are working together for the common good of South Africa's DTT future and will be expanding its current DVB-T trial to the new DVB-T2 - the latest upgraded version of this digital broadcasting standard. While the sadly confused South African government lately made akward noises and seemingly want to backstrack on the already agreed upon DVB-T standard - the most widely used standard worldwide for DTT  that the government already approved in 2008 - e.tv and M-Net are working really very hard on testing, refining, enhancing and putting infrastructure in place for DVB-T broadcasts.

M-Net and e.tv - working together in this, as well as individually - need to be commended for their really stellar work in working towards DTT. This process is costing these broadcasters millions of rands on their balance sheets as they're working to create a better broadcasting technology infrastructure for viewers in the future. Both broadcasters today announced plans to bring the DVB-T2 to a group of Soweto residents who will be trailing the new standard after the broadcasters started lab tests with DVB-T2 at the beginning of this month. Trial participants in Soweto are currently being recruited. DVB-T2 also provides the possibility for high definition services to be provided in DTT broadcasts.

''DVB is the right choice for South Africa,'' says Marcel Golding, group CEO of e.tv. ''T2 is a more efficient version of DVB-T and is available should we choose to use it.''

''We are aiming for these trials to be as inclusive as possible,'' says Patricia Scholtemeyer, M-Net CEO who says that once the trial participants have had time to fully experience the DTT technology ''we will be inviting the industry bodies, academia and the media to share in the trial experiences and results.''

ALSO READ: Government warned to ''very carefully consider all the implications'' of changing South Africa's DVB-T digital television standard.
ALSO READ: ISDB-Tb instead of DVB-T for South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT) will be difficult, impossible, expensive, says Sadiba.
ALSO READ: M-Net and e.tv unite over DVB standard for digital terrestrial television in South Africa.

BREAKING. E.tv's group CEO Marcel Golding upset about court order against eNews journalists.

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E.tv's Marcel Golding has entered the fray of the whole brouhaha regarding the (in my opinion superly ill conceived, short sighted and lazy) South African Police Service (SAPS) who is upset and subpoenad e.tv's journalists to hand over information. This comes after eNews ran an insert on Friday about criminals who plan to perpetrate crime during the Soccer World Cup in June.

''Mpho Lakaje and Ben Said were simply doing their jobs as journalists,'' says e.tv group CEO, Marcel Golding, who I can tell you RARELY speak on the record and which means that he is VERY UPSET and SUPER PERTURBED by this.

''This type of story is not unusual and similar stories have been covered by other media, including respected international broadcasters,'' says Marcel Golding.

''The reaction against eNews from certain quarters has been unreasonable and disproportionate. eNews has a reputation for reporting stories without fear or favour – no matter how unpalatable such information may be. Moreover, eNews has consistently provided high profile coverage of SAPS successes in the fight against crime.''

My opinion: What I is why the SAPS can't do their OWN crime investigation? Are they so pathetic that they can't find these people they're looking for themselves and now has to rely on court orders to try and force journalists to reveal their sources? PLEASE! I HOPE not. I sincerely HOPE the SAPS back off and leave the eNews journalists (and journalists everywhere ALONE to do their jobs and then go and do theirs which is to actually fight crime).