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

by Thinus Ferreira

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tonight's TV has a trove of new start-ups from uBettina Wethu on SABC1 and The Estate and Prime News on 3 on SABC3, while The Station and DiepCity start on Mzansi Magic.

by Thinus Ferreira

Television brims with brand-new local TV shows starting tonight, Monday 5 April, that will make it even harder for viewers to decide where to watch what, next.

uBettina Wethu, South Africa's local adaptation of Ugly Betty makes its debut on SABC1, while SABC3 opens the gates to its new local soap The Estate. 

There is a new timeslot for the public broadcaster's English TV news bulletin on SABC3 that will now compete with e.tv, while DiepCity starts as Isibaya's replacement on Mzansi Magic.

Then there is also the start of  The Station as a new drama series starring and produced by Sello Maake Ka-Ncube.

The Estate, SABC3, 19:00

This new locally-produced soap is the newly-cemented cornerstone from which the public broadcaster's struggling TV channel is starting to rebuild its primetime line-up with The Estate, produced by Clive Morris Productions that is replacing Isidingo.

The Estate revolves around a gated South African community named Echelon Estate with the rich "haves" - with the nearby township of Thembalethu "have nots" that suddenly makes a land claim.

The Estate will address issues such as land and identity, corruption, patronage, money (old and new), power, class and equality, all told through a colourful mix of South African families.

Monday's first episode is an hour-long premiere episode, followed by half-hour weekday episodes.

eBettina Wethu, SABC, 19:30

Farieda Metsileng along with a majority-black cast stars in the lead role as Bettina Sikhakane in the South African adaptation of Colombia's Yo Soy Bety La Fea.

The telenovela produced by Known Associates Entertainment will be shown on SABC1 and the VIU streaming service, and will have three episodes per week from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Bettina is appointed as the managing director's personal assistant at Nubia, a brand management company. 

Zweli Dube is Dingaan Jiyane, while Tsholofelo Mashishi plays Dingaan's mother and the matriarch of the family. Linda Jiyane and Lesego Tlhabi known as Coconut Kelz will play the bubbly Zaza Moloi.

The uBettina Wethu supporting cast are Michael Potter as Brandon Thomas, Elliot Makhubo as Israel Sikhakhane, Mbasa Msongeli as Mpilo Hadebe, Brighton Ngoma as T-Bang Moeketsi, Ayanda Bandla as Lakhe Amon, Mhairi Fergusson as Amanda, Motshabi Tyelele as Ethel, Jason Willemse as Wendell and Alex Sono as Reggie.

News @ 8, SABC3, 20:00

A new TV news battle is brewing from tonight with SABC3 that is taking e.tv's news offering head-on, and is moving its main TV news bulletins from 21:00 on weekdays to 20:00, directly opposite e.tv's e.tv News.  

On weekends SABC3 will now broadcast the public broadcaster's main English TV news bulletin at 18:00.

The Station, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), 20:00

This new drama series is produced by Taproots Media from Sello Maake Ka-Ncube who also stars as the character of Fix in this new series.

The Station revolves around the backstabbing and scheming between four employees who suddenly become shareholders of a petrol station. Don (Owen Sejake) leaves his petrol station to his four employees, who all start playing hunger games to gain control as personalities clash.

Sphamandla Dhludhlu is Caesar, a young man determined to see the business succeed to improve his life and to support his wheelchair-bound father Themba (Ernest Ndlovu).

Meanwhile, Diliza (Aubrey Mmakola) threatens to take control of the station and run it to the ground. Will the husband and wife team of Cynthia (Lerato Mvelase) and Fix, along with Caesar and Sli (Sibulele Gcilitshana) - be able to stop Diliza?

DiepCity, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), 20:30

DiepCity is the new local telenovela replacing Isibaya, exploring the struggles of four young women forced into lives of crime in order to survive.

The small-time house burglar Nox (Nozuko Ncayiyane) sees her world shatter after her younger brother Sibusiso (Tshiamo Molobi) is fatally shot during a house robbery that he was never supposed to be part of and that was set up by the security guard Elliot (Mduduzi Mabaso).

After a stint in jail, Nox returns home where her alcoholic father Bonga (Hamilton Dlamini) lost his job and where her mother Thandiwe (Dawn Thandeka King) who works as a domestic worker refuses to forgive her for her brother's death.

ALSO READ: SABC3’s new locally-produced weekday telenovela The Estate from Clive Morris Productions to launch in April as a cornerstone of the TV channel's latest repositioning effort.

ALSO READ: Farieda Metsileng cast as South Africa's Bettina in SABC1's local adaptation of Ugly Betty, Coconut Kelz to play the sassy friend.