eNCA shifts Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to co-anchor The South African Morning timeslot.

by Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel once again did a line-up change on Monday this week with Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga replacing Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni as the hosts of eNCA's The South African Morning timeslot.

Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga are now anchoring The South African Morning on eNCA between 06:00 and 09:00 on weekdays, with Gareth Edwards moved to and now anchoring the 12:00 to 15:00 timeslot.

In response to a media query, eNCA tells TVwithThinus that "eNCA has made some major changes to the morning news show, which was previously anchored by Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni".

Dan Moyane says "It's a privilege for me to be back again in morning news. In a fast-paced world of news, I am excited to have the opportunity to deliver fresh news content every weekday morning".

Masego Rahlaga says "I'm truly humbled by this opportunity to work with Bra Dan bringing news and a bit of fun to our viewers every morning. Thank you to the eNCA management for trusting me with such an important role".

About why eNCA once again changed its timeslot anchor line-up and moved Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to its morning slot, Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, says "Many viewers have been asking us as a channel, to create a combo between Masego and Dan".

"When they have appeared on screen together for minor projects, their energy has been unmatched.  And now, when the people spoke, we listened and acted".

Here's is how eNCA's anchor line-up looks during the day on the TV news channel looks now:

eNCA adds The Dan Corder Show as its first satirical late night news show in almost a decade.

by Thinus Ferreira

After exiting the SABC 5FM last week Friday, radio DJ Dan Corder is joining eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) where he will host a biweekly show of his own from Monday.

The South African TV news channel is adding The Dan Corder Show on Monday and Tuesday nights at 21:00. 

It comes after the rising star did well at the SABC's commercial youth radio station for three years and branched out recently by rapidly expanding his own social media presence through things like his podcast, The Issue with Dan Corder over the last six months.

eNCA declined to say for how many episodes The Dan Corder Show has been commissioned for but Siyabonga Mposula told TVwithThinus that "Dan Corder is part of eNCA's future growth strategy".

While Nick Archibald, the presenter of Top 40 on 5 is replacing Dan Corder on 5 Breakfast on an interim basis, Dan Corder is gearing up for eNCA's first return to a humouristic current affairs commentary show in 9 years.

In 2015 when eNCA cancelled Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola produced by DiPrente Productions, the channel said it would replace it with a new satirical late night news and interview show but nothing came from the promise.

According to eNCA, Dan Corder will "share his quick wit, captivating storytelling and blunt analysis in the stories that cut to the heart of South Africa". Like LNN, The Dan Corder Show is described as "a blend of comedy, insight, satire, daring interviews and topical deep dives into the country's most controversial moments".

Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, says eNCA is "excited to bring in a fresh and exciting addition to our late night news".

"Dan will be a great way of transitioning into a new sphere of how news is told, and how different audiences can be united in a fun and innovative way. We hope to grow and reach new heights and change how news is told - one joke at a time."

On his podcast yesterday, Dan Corder said "my lifelong dream has always been to host a satirical new show in the American style best done by a Jon Stewart or a John Oliver".

"I never thought that I'd be able to do that because there's no culture of that in South Africa - it's not something that channels or networks option and something that they do - which I've always found completely insane because South Africa is the perfect country for this kind of show. It is wild."

"Unbelievably, we got a call from a network. And not just any network but the most trusted, reputable news network in South Africa - eNCA. And they said 'guys, how about you do what you've been doing on YouTube, for us."

"We've now got a late night show for you - a political and late night satire news show for you for South Africa because of what we've built here together on YouTube - because of what we've done on TikTok."

Dan Corder said "you're also going to be able to catch it online in full if you can't catch it at that time or if you don't have DStv or the option that gets you channel 403."

The Issue with Dan Corder will also continue independently on YouTube as a podcast.

Latest rebrand 'a new era for eNCA,' says managing director as TV news channel want viewers to question more and 'create hope with our new positioning'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Work on the latest eNCA rebranding unveiled today on 1 May started in August 2022 with the latest schedule and programming changes introduced from today which have all been timed for the South African TV news channel's 15th anniversary happening in June.

eNCA launched on MultiChoice's DStv in June 2008 as the eNews Channel with the Hyde Park headquartered channel that has gone through a myriad of anchor, schedule, programming, logo and on-air looks over the past decade and a half. 

On Monday eNCA once again adapted its logo and on-air look, while introducing another schedule shake-up like cancelling its The South African Morning programming block in favour of simulcasting free-to-air sister channel e.tv's The Morning Show.

About the simulcast of The Morning Show, produced by Cheeky Media with Yusuf Stevens as executive producer, John Bailey, eNCA managing editor, on Monday said "that while eNCA will remain true to its business of news and content creation, what we are offering our viewers is really looking at how we can enlighten our viewers, especially in the morning".

"That's why we are bringing our hard-hitting news that we have become known for over all these past years, but also just give you a different sense of let's talk about spirituality that The Morning Show has become so famous for - but also issues around lifestyle".

eNCA logo revamped again

Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, said the planning for yet another eNCA logo revamp started in August 2022.

The latest eNCA logo remains red and blue but delineates the blue "e" from the red and also inverts and flips the blue and white lettering colour and background colour from what they were before.

"We looked at some of the best brands in the world. On 1 June eNCA will be 15 years in existence and we thought we need to find a way of how does the eNCA brand grow organically?"

"eNCA was known for 'No fear, no favour'. We have to question a lot of things. We want to get our audience to do something about what we provide them. We're in the business of content creation which happens to be news. That brand must live amongst us. It's a call to action as to what we should be doing as a company."

He said that the "new positioning is a new era for eNCA, a new era for the viewers of eNCA".

John Bailey said eNCA's new brand positioning is "let's take it to our viewers - let's empower our viewers, also with the type of content we're going to put on-air on eNCA, we are going to give you the questioning part, we want you to think about what we put on air".

"If you have to question those in power - and we are talking a wide range of when we talk about those in power - it's not only politics. It's also to do with the private sector, it's where you live. And even question yourself. And you empower yourself to see how do I make a change and how do I better my own community and myself. So it's a call to action," he said.

"It's to get people to think differently about how they approach life. It cannot just be left to certain industry or certain individuals to make a change. You as an individual, you have to start thinking about how do we start taking South Africa to where we want the country to be. We want to create hope with our new positioning."

ALSO READ: eNCA in May revamp with yet another new logo and schedule changes, Shahan Ramkissoon makes anchor return as channel dumps own show to simulcast e.tv's The Morning Show, will stay live until midnight.

ALSO READ: Faith Mangope joins e.tv's revamped The Morning Show added to eNCA as simulcast programming.

Faith Mangope joins e.tv's revamped The Morning Show added to eNCA as simulcast programming.

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv once again relaunched The Morning Show on Monday 1 May - which will now be simulcast on eNCA (DStv 403) and that dropped producing its own The South African Morning - adding Faith Mangope as a presenter and Brighton Mhlongo as a sports presenter.

Pay-TV subscribers will now get to see The Morning Show, with Yusuf Stevens as executive producer, on DStv at the same time as the breakfast show is seen on e.tv. 

An additional half-hour of the Cheeky Media produced show is produced for eNCA between 08:30 and 9:00, s part of the South African TV news channel's latest on-air look and scheduling revamp.

e.tv issued no press release about The Morning Show, which launched five years ago in May 2018, undergoing yet another on-air revamp and presenter team change. 

The show coincidentally shares a name with the Apple TV+ drama series set behind the scenes of an American breakfast TV show and which just got renewed for a fourth season.

eNCA cancelled the production of its own The South African Morning which had a bigger focus on news and current affairs, to now substitute it with the more edutainment-centric The Morning Show doing sponsored segments, as it tries to compete with frontrunner Morning Live on SABC2 also simulcast on SABC News (DStv 404), SABC3's Expresso, as well as Newzroom Afrika's (DStv 405) A.M. Report.

Faith Magope and Brighton Mhlongo join the current set of The Morning Show presenters Nelisiwe Mmape, Kgosi Rankhumise, Bolele Polisa and Obakeng Obakeng "OB Knows" Ngobeni.

"It's a bigger and better Morning Show," presenter Kgosi Rankhumise said on Monday morning.

On joining the show Faith Mangope, who woke up at 2:45 this morning, said it's "about working with a team that wants to help you out, want to make you feel welcome - that's what it is. It's about us being a family but a family mindful that it's not about us. It's not about Faith, it's not about Faith's glory, it's about the people - it's about South Africans who really want good quality content." 

About now doing a simulcast with The Morning Show shown free on e.tv and to pay-TV viewers on DStv, Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, on Monday morning said "It's important because we have to serve both worlds".

"We do have our own audience - loyal audience as eNCA - but we are driven by the fact that we have to service the whole audience as a person in terms of giving you diversity and plurality of voices in the morning."

John Bailey, eNCA managing editor, on Monday said "that while eNCA will remain true to its business of news and content creation, what we are offering our viewers is really looking at how we can enlighten our viewers, especially in the morning".

"That's why we are bringing our hard-hitting news that we have become known for over all these past years, but also just give you a different sense of let's talk about spirituality that The Morning Show has become so famous for - but also issues around lifestyle".

ALSO READ: eNCA in May revamp with yet another new logo and schedule changes, Shahan Ramkissoon makes anchor return as channel dumps own show to simulcast e.tv's The Morning Show, will stay live until midnight.

ALSO READ: Latest rebrand 'a new era for eNCA,' says managing director as TV news channel want viewers to question more and 'create hope with our new positioning'.

'Mass retrenchments' coming to eMedia's eNCA with 'consolidation' of jobs countrywide inside the TV news channel: 'eNCA bleeding staff as it is but they're cutting even more'.

by Thinus Ferreira

"Mass retrenchments" are looming at eMedia Investments' eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel in South Africa according to insiders, affecting staffers in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban across various workflow divisions that will see scores of people lose their jobs in so-called "consolidation" of work responsibilities.

eNCA staffers once again reiterated the ongoing refrain, heard constantly again since last month, without prompting, when they talk: "Staff morale is at an all-time low" inside the TV news channel. 

TVwithThinus already reported that eMedia plans to shutter its etv News & Sport channel on its Openview satellite service at the end of March which will see 45 workers lose their jobs. eMedia said the etv News & Sport channel is "no longer viable".

TVwithThinus already reported earlier this week that eMedia Investments plans to get rid of over half of its video editors and senior video editors by the end of April who were served with Section 189 retrenchment letters on Monday in a process overseen by eNCA eNCA managing director Norman Munzhelele.

According to sources, just 11 out of eNCA's 25 long-form and news video editors are safe, with the newsroom that has moved to a system where producers, writers and reporters have to do their own editing, making video editors obsolete.

 eMedia in response to a media query said "We acknowledge your questions and queries, however this is an ongoing, internal matter that is sensitive and will be facilitated with the utmost respect, whilst preserving the dignity of our staff".

"The company is committed to all relevant and applicable labour legislation."

Sources told TVwithThinus that eNCA staffers were called to a meeting on On Wednesday morning in Johannesburg where the mass retrenchment process was announced by Norman Munzhelele affecting eNCA staffers across Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

eNCA plans "consolidation" broadly across five different workflow areas.

Norman Munzhelele's plan is to "consolidate" the desk editor and programme editor positions at eNCA, meaning that basically the programme editors will be lumped together with desk editor duties.

"Consolidation" is also coming to producers and guest bookers - with the result that guest bookers will lose their jobs.

The company has also adopted a new archive strategy that will result in archive team staffers getting axed.

The plan is further to integrate sports into news which could mean that the sports news team will face job cuts too.

Then eNCA wants to "drive efficiencies" in Cape Town and Durban - meaning that staff working in those cities will likely see their job numbers cut.

According to sources in the past few weeks a desk editor, assignment editor and programme editor resigned at eNCA.

"eNCA is bleeding staff as it is, but they're cutting even more," said another insider. "Staff morale is at an all-time low."

ALSO READ: eNCA plans to axe over half of its video editors served with Section 189 letters.

ALSO READ: eMedia to shut 'no longer viable' etv News & Sport channel and axe 45 workers. 

eNCA plans to axe over half of its video editors, staffers served with Section 189 letters.

by Thinus Ferreira

eMedia Investments' eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel plans to get rid of over half of its video editors and senior video editors by the end of April who were served with Section 189 retrenchment letters on Monday.

According to sources, just 11 out of eNCA's 25 longform and news video editors are safe, with the newsroom that has moved to a system where producers, writers and reporters have to do their own editing, making video editors obsolete.

eNCA planning to axe video editors come as eMedia plans to shutter its etv News & Sport channel on ts Openview satellite service at the end of this month that will see 45 workers lose their jobs. eMedia said the etv News & Sport channel is "no longer viable".

About serving eNCA video editors with Section 189 letters on Monday, eMedia in response to a media query said "We acknowledge your questions and queries, however this is an ongoing, internal matter that is sensitive and will be facilitated with the utmost respect, whilst preserving the dignity of our staff".

"The company is committed to all relevant and applicable labour legislation."

eNCA managing director Norman Munzhelele told video editors that after moving to the new Hyde Park building in late-2021 and with upgrades in broadcasting infrastructure, "the number of video editors in the structure exceeds the operational requirements of the business".

eNCA says that the video editing role and positions are under-utilized or not utilised.

Norman Munzhelele told video editors that the new proposed structure "will realign to deliver high-quality, newsworthy, relevant video content capability where resources  - both human resources and technology - and skills/competencies are maximised and productive".

A meeting will be taking place with affected workers on Wednesday afternoon.

ALSO READ: eMedia to shut 'no longer viable' etv News & Sport channel and axe 45 workers.

eNCA switches to broadcasting from new eMedia Investments building and new studio, plans to install biggest video wall in 3 months.

by Thinus Ferreira

eNCA (DStv 403) on Monday morning, 2 August, finally switched to broadcasting from eMedia Investments' new building in Johannesburg and from new studio space within this building, featuring a wall-to-ceiling window behind the anchor desk, showing how it looks outside and with plans to install the biggest video wall in Africa with 3 to 4 months here.

The move to a new eNCA studio from e.tv's Hyde Park headquarters in Johannesburg has been a long time coming, with eNCA that told TVwithThinus three years ago in July 2019 that the TV news channel plans to move to a new Johannesburg location.

Copying CNN and its iconic James Earl Jones tagline, eNCA also added a male announcer voice-over at the top of the hour, saying "This is eNCA".

eNCA's implementation of new studio space - with the new building that is located very close to the previous 5 Summit Road building in Hyde Park and studio 102 where eNCA used to broadcast from until this past Friday - comes after the rival South African TV news channel Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) introduced its new studio space in March this year after a 4-month revamp.

The new eMedia Investments building is in Albury Road, right next door to 5 Summit Road, where the so-called "west block" building was redeveloped.

The new eNCA studio-look immediately suffered two very evident problems: dirty windows and glare. Viewers could see that eNCA forgot to clean the windows properly. 

The studio also suffers from a reflection problem. 

Viewers can see what's behind the eNCA cameras, as well as "offside" to the sides since the windows behind the anchor desk reflect back - like a mirror from certain angles and depending on darkness and light - various things like doors, the desk and studio, monitors and even the ceilings lights that create more on-air clutter than is necessary.

Besides eNCA staffers, the building also houses e.tv, eMedia Sales, Openview and YFM radio station employees.

Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, in an interview at 8:30 on Monday morning on the channel, said that "it's been a long journey because of Covid" getting to move to and broadcasting from the new building.

"We've got the biggest video wall in Africa, this building will enable us to use that video wall to the maximum," he said, with eNCA that will still move to a bigger studio space within the building within months.

"We had to move fast from 5 Summit Road to here. But I think in the next 3 to 4o months we will be in that studio where we will have the biggest studio in Africa."

eNCA celebrated the first broadcast from the new building on Monday with a silver and white cake.

Jeremy Maggs out as eNCA acting editor-in-chief; Norman Munzhelele taking over as acting managing director at the scandal-hit TV news channel.

by Thinus Ferreira

Jeremy Maggs is out with immediate effect as acting editor-in-chief at the scandal-hit TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403), saying he's stepping down because of stress, a month and a half after the firing of the politician-made-news-boss Kanthan Pillay in mid-December 2019.

Jeremy Maggs, who is also an anchor on eNCA, has been acting editor-in-chief at eNCA for the past 12 months but asked to step down because he couldn't cope with the stress-load anymore which was having a negative impact on his.

Norman Munzhelele is taking over as acting managing director of eNCA. Norman Munzhelele has been with the eMedia Investments group for 3 years.

Jeremy Maggs will continue to co-anchor the SA Tonight timeslot - the prime time timeslot he originally anchored, then left for the afternoons and then returned to.

"This has not been an easy decision, but for the past few months the stressful nature of the job has caused me to re-evaluate both my position at the station and my life choices. I've been stressed and unwell for some time and I’ve made this decision in my own best interests and that of the station," Jeremy Maggs says in a prepared statement released on Tuesday morning.

Antonio Lee, eMedia Investments COO, says in the statement "We acknowledge Jeremy’s contribution during his tenure as acting editor-in-chief, and accept his wish to step down".

"Jeremy remains one of our top-rated presenters and is inextricably linked to the eNCA brand.  We are exploring other programing opportunities with him.  We thank Jeremy for the job he has done as acting editor-in-chief, and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with him."