#SONA2020: South African TV coverage of the State of the Nation 2020 Address today.

by Thinus Ferreira

Several TV channels will be doing live coverage and analyses today of the State of the Nation Address 2020 of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

The State of the Nation Address is divided into three different parts - the ceremony where the Civil Guard of Honour welcomes the president and his guests as they walk along the red carpet at parliament; then the state ceremonial which includes a 21-gun salute and the South African Air Force flypast, and lastly the official address from the president.


SABC News
The SABC will broadcast the State of the Nation Address 2020 (#SONA2020) live on TV, radio, its online SABC News channel on YouTube and on its website on Thursday, 13 February.

The SABC will do preview coverage and analyses on various programmes on SABC News (DStv 404) leading up to the address. These shows will cover the Civil Guard of Honour, red carpet arrivals coverage and the 21 Gun Salute.

The SABC says that SABC News reporters and anchors will be on location at parliament and in the Auckland Park studio in Johannesburg to cover the event.

SABC News roving reporters will also be spread across South Africa bring citizens' expectations and reactions in various communities in the run-up to the speech and afterwards.

The SABC will have leading political and economic analysts in studio and on-location helping the audience to make sense of the president's speech.

The red carpet arrivals will be live streamed from 16:00 on the SABC News channel on YouTube until the end of the proceedings as members of the judiciary, cabinet ministers and members of parliament (MPs), including the speakers of the various provincial legislatures, premiers and diplomats arrive at the Company Gardens entrance in Government Avenue to the Old Assembly.

The president's address will be broadcast live at 19:00 on SABC News (DStv 404) and on SABC2.

Following the president's address, a post-analysis of the speech will be broadcast live with experts and reaction from various political parties.


SABC2
On SABC2 coverage of the State of the Nation Address 2020 speech will start at 18:00 and continue until 21:00, preempting the channel's normal schedule. On Thursday there won't be an edition of the Afrikaans TV news on SABC2. It will be followed by the day's episode of Muvhango at 21:00.


eNCA (DStv 403)
eNCA didn't respond to media enquiries about its SONA coverage and presentation plans but the channel will be doing rolling live coverage of the State of the Nation Address 2020 kicking off from 16:00.

The State of the Nation Address Build-Up starts at 16:00 for three hours after which the channel plans to show the State of the Nation Address 2020 from 19:00 live until 21:00.

In past years eNCA had a pop-up studio in Cape Town's parliamentary precinct and will likely have one again this year.


Newzroom Africa (DStv 405)
Newzroom Afrika says the channel has planned special broadcast coverage of today's event with a senior team of anchors and reporters in both Cape Town and its studio in Linden, Johannesburg.

"Our full day of coverage means live crossings from early in the morning until late into the evening with much analysis and reaction."

"Our seasoned anchor, Cathy Mohlahlana together with our politics editor, Sbu Ngalwa will be hosting our special broadcast from Cape Town - while Stephen Grootes makes his Newzroom Afrika debut from our Linden studios."

Newzroom Afrika says its reporters Ziyanda Ngcobo, Athi Mtongana and Nasiphi Same will be covering the SONA2020 red carpet, the parliamentary precinct and surrounds while Pelane Phakgadi and Malungelo Booi will do the wrap-up coverage, getting reaction and analyses.

CNBC Africa (DStv 410)
CNBC Africa says the channel will broadcast the State of the Nation Address 2020 live from 19:00 until 20:00.


Business Day TV (DStv 412)
Business Day TV will broadcast the State of the Nation Address 2020 live and do post-analysis coverage afterwards until 21:00.


Parliamentary Channel (DStv 408)
Build-up: SONA 2020 coverage kicks off on the channel at 15:00, with a live broadcast of the State of the Nation Address 2020 speech from 19:00 until 21:30.

From 21:30 there is a half-hour Wrap-up: SONA 2020 carrying reaction from various politicians, after which a repeat of the speech is broadcast at 22:00 tonight.

The same coverage will be streamed on parliament's YouTube channel.

#SONA2019: South African TV coverage of the State of the Nation 2019 Address today.

Several TV channels will be doing live coverage and analyses today of the State of the Nation Address 2019 of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.


SABC
The SABC will broadcast the State of the Nation Address 2019 (#SONA2019) live on TV, radio and its online SABC News channel on YouTube on Thursday, 7 February.

The SABC will do preview coverage and analyses on its programmes Agenda and On Point on SABC News (DStv 404) leading up to the address. These shows will cover the Civil Guard of Honour, red carpet arrivals coverage and the 21 Gun Salute.

The red carpet arrivals will be live streamed from 16:00 on the SABC News channel on YouTube until the end of the proceedings.

The president's address will be broadcast live during the prime time programme Full View on SABC News and on SABC2.

Following the president's address, a post-analysis of the speech will be broadcast live with experts and reaction from various political parties. The SABC will also do live crossings to various provinces to get vox populi reactions.


SABC2
On SABC2 coverage of the State of the Nation Address 2019 speech will start at 18:00 and continue until 20:30, preempting the channel's normal schedule. It will be followed by the current affairs programme Ngula Ya Vutivi at 20:30 and the day's episode of Muvhango at 21:00.


eNCA (DStv 403)
eNCA will do rolling live coverage of president Cyril Ramaphosa's second State of the Nation Address today, with extensive coverage kicking off from 16:00.

eNCA anchors Vuyo Mvoko and Michelle Craig will anchor this evening's coverage from a pop-up studio in Cape Town's parliamentary precinct.

Reporter Leigh-Ann Jansen will be joined by the fashion entrepreneur Craig Jacobs alongside the red carpet to interview politicians and to ask what they're wearing.

Iman Rappetti from the Madam Speaker talk show will host a live studio audience at eNCA's Hyde Park studios in Johannesburg. She will do crossovers with Vuyo Mvoko and Michelle Craig throughout the evening, sharing the studio audience's reactions and comments.

A special hour-long live edition of Madam Speaker will be broadcast on eNCA at 21:00.

This year eNCA has partnered with the independent fact-checking organisation Africa Check to provide viewers with in-depth analysis with Africa Check researchers who will fact-check Cyril Ramaphosa's address throughout the evening from the eNCA Johannesburg studios and share their analysis from 22:00.


Open News (Openview 120)
Open News will also do coverage of the State of the Nation Address 2019 with anchors Naledi Moleo and Ayanda Dlamini who will broadcast live from Cape Town's parliamentary precinct, bringing viewers all the highlights from the red carpet and the National Assembly.

Koketso Sachane will cover all the news making headlines from the address as well as the day's other news from the Open News studios.


Parliamentary Channel (DStv 408)
Live coverage of the State of the Nation Address 2019 speech from 18:00.


CNBC Africa (DStv 410 / Cell C black 512)
CNBC Africa didn't provide a programming advisory regarding its coverage plans to the press but has slotted a State of the Nation Address programming block from 19:00 to 20:30 on its schedule for today.

Civil society 'deeply alarmed' at DStv's Parliamentary Service TV channel being cut and censored for the third time in three months.

YouTube screengrab/Gwandile

MultiChoice's Parliamentary Service TV channel (DStv 408) on the DStv satellite pay-TV platform has become "must-see" television for South Africans and the world - because of what it's not showing.

The world is now watching DStv's Parliamentary Service TV channel as another example of shocking encroaching censorship, with the channel which was cut again this past Thursday for the third time in as many months - preventing South Africans from seeing what is going in in parliament.

Neither the Parliamentary Service TV channel nor MultiChoice has so far offered any explanations as to why the TV channel is not doing what its purpose it - which is showing the live events, debates and situations as it unfolds inside parliament.

Viewers are wondering what the use is of the DStv parliamentary TV channel if its blacked out and the feed cut when they want to watch it, while civil society watch groups are becoming increasingly concerned about the blatant censorship that happens every time something happens inside South Africa's parliament certain people decide they don't want the South African public to see.

Viewers got a glimpse of what actually happened inside South Africa's National Assembly on Thursday evening thanks to cellphone footage which quickly made its way onto 24-hour TV news channels like eNCA (DStv 403).

"South Africans have the right to know who gave these instructions and who should be held to account for such deeply undemocratic tendencies," says Right2Know Campaign (R2K) spokesperson Murray Hunter.

"There has been no credible explanation for the cutting of Parliament's live television feed, and no explanation can justify it," said Murray Hunter.

PEN South Africa, part of an international organisation which represents writers, editors and translators, and whose members have pledged themselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression or censorship but to uphold freedom of the press, says it is "deeply alarmed" at the censorship.

PEN South Africa says it's concerned about the "serious manipulation of the TV reporting of the proceedings in parliament where the camera pictures were cut thus preventing citizens of the country from viewing the actual proceedings in the house, the unruliness of MP's and alleged assaults by police".

PEN South Africa rightly states that "the manipulation and censoring of Parliament's TV broadcasts has occured on more than one occasion in recent weeks" and is "deeply alarmed that these are deliberate and serious inroads on freedom of expression and transparency, core values which form the basis of our constitutional democracy".

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) is also protesting the censorship to have the Parliamentary TV channel on DStv cut.

has dispatched a letter to the spokesperson of Parliament, Luzuko Jacobs, protesting against the soft censorship that is creeping into the broadcasting of proceedings.

"On Thursday, the feed was cut off at a time when there were scuffles. This followed two other incidents on August 21 and last week when a member of the opposition was arguing with the Speaker ending with that Member being suspended."

"In this latter instance, the feed was manipulated to stay focused on the Speaker, thus not allowing the public to get the full picture of the on goings in the House," says Sanef.

"Sanef reiterates its call for presiding officers in parliament to ensure that there is no censorship of the debates in the house, irrespective of the content of those debates and the need for presiding officers to protect the image of the house."

DEVELOPING. MultiChoice's Parliamentary TV channel on DStv first cuts sound, then visuals; reporters forcibly removed after EFF chaos.

MultiChoice's Parliamentary TV channel (DStv 408) on DStv first cut the audio to silence the channel and then cut the camera and visuals to prevent DStv subscribers from seeing what is happening inside South Africa's democratic parliament, while reporters were forcibly removed.

It's not clear whether MultiChoice cut the sound and visuals or why the Parliamentary TV channel suddenly stopped showing what's happening inside parliament.

Chaos erupted when EFF political party members started shouting "Pay back the money!" when president Jacob Zuma refused to answer a question from EFF party leader Julius Malema on when he will be paying back the money spent on the highly controversial Nkandla upgrades.

First audio and then visuals on the Parliamentary service to South Africa's National Assembly then got cut.

MultiChoice on Thursday didn't respond to media enquiries as to why DStv's Parliamentary TV went off the air.

Journalists started reporting that the press were being forcibly removed from parliament and evicted from the media gallery against their wishes.

Several press members were adamant that they will not be leaving parliament and refused to leave the press gallery to bear witness to the events and the stand-off between the EFF and police members inside the National Assembly.

Meanwhile the South African Police Service with riot gear are barring democratically elected members of parliament (MPs) from various political parties from entering the National Assembly, calling it "a police scene".

At 16:00 the media and press were told they can now stay. eNCA's Paula Chowles and Lester Kiewit  are still inside parliament.

At 16:11 the Parliamentary TV channel on DStv went live again. Still no explanation as to why the feed to DStv subscribers were unilaterally cut.

BREAKING. SABC board appearance before parliament no longer broadcast live; will be shown this evening.

You're reading it here first.

Where is the broadcast of the SABC board appearing before parliament's portfolio committee on communications right at this very moment? The Parliamentary Service (DStv 408) said the channel would broadcast today's proceedings live.

I can tell you that there's no conspiracy theory at work here. The Parliamentary Service just called me to say that the channel that covers proceedings within parliament had to go live with the national council of provinces meeting now also happening right at this moment.

Parliamentary Service assured me the SABC board appearance is being recorded after the meeting was now booked for a camera-enabled venue where it's currently taking place. The Parliamentary Service doesn't have a specific time yet for the broadcast of the SABC board appearance but tells me it will happen today still, and is looking at possibly starting the recorded broadcast at 18:00 today, Tuesday 23.

BREAKING. The SABC board's upcoming appearance before parliament on Tuesday WILL now be televised.

You're reading it here first.

I can now break the news that the SABC's appearance before parliament on Tuesday, November 26 will be televised after a last minute scramble which comes after I broke the news RIGHT HERE on Friday that Tuesday's SABC appearance before parliament is not going to be televised because no venue was booked at this late stage by the parliamentary committee and that no camera-enabled venues were available anymore for the Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) to use.

A last-minute flurry of administration activity has now wrangled the camera and sound equipped room V454 in the Old Assembly Building for the SABC board's appearance before the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications.

That means that all the real-life, must-see drama of the SABC's dysfunctionality will hopefully and finally be laid bare, with everyone being able to ask the SABC board and top executives what on earth is going on at the public broadcaster. The whole day - from 09:00 to 17:00 - has been set aside and should now be broadcast on the Parliamentary Service channel on Tuesday.

BREAKING. Parliamentary Service set to broadcast the entire day's appearance of the SABC board before parliament on Wednesday.

You're reading it here first.

The long overdue appearance of the SABC board before parliament tomorrow, Wednesday, October 20, will be televised in its entirety on the Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) from 09:30.

In what will make for riveting and definitely dramatic television, the Parliamentary Service channel - that was prevented from broadcasting the ''closed'' meeting of the SABC board before the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications - will definitely be showing the full day's proceedings tomorrow. The highly anticipated event could easily yield the Parliamentary Service's biggest viewership in a few years. A record number of viewers will probably be tuning in for tomorrow's SABC board grilling due to the behind-the-scenes, dramatics personae real-life narrative that's been playing out in soap-esque, reality show style over the past few months. 

''We will be covering the sitting of the portfolio committee on communications from 09:30 on Wednesday, providing it takes place as scheduled,'' the Parliamentary Service tells me. The SABC board will address the committee on its annual report, as well as answer questions on numerous management problems, tension between the board and its chairperson dr Ben Ngubane and suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle, as well as other matters that's been hampering the beleaguered South African public broadcaster.

BREAKING. Tomorrow's grilling of the SABC board and chairperson dr Ben Ngubane kept hidden; proceedings will NOT be televised.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal and confirm that South African citizens, SABC licence payers, and people interested in public broadcasting issues in South Africa WILL NOT get to follow - or see - the grilling of the SABC board and the SABC board chairperson dr Ben Ngubane in parliament tomorrow since it WILL NOT be televised.

The SABC board members have all been called to parliament to appear before the portfolio committee for communications to explain the renewel upheaval and behind the scenes clashes among upper management at the beleaguered public broadcaster. This has been marked as a CLOSED SESSION and is being kept secret and hidden from the public. I have confirmed with the Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) that tomorrow's proceedings WILL NOT be broadcast - firstly because the venue chosen does not have the necessary camera and broadcasting equipment. Secondly the Parliamentary Srvice is NOT ALLOWED to broadcast a CLOSED SESSION that happens in secret behind closed doors and that involves people who bear public office and should be held publicly accountable.

The CLOSED SESSION happens tomorrow morning between 10:00 and 13:00. There is one open session (also not televised, but that the public can attend) between 15:15 and 17:00 at the Good Hope Chamber in the Good Hope Building.

Programming note: FINAL DAY of SABC board nominee interviews

Programming note: The final day of interviews of the candidates up for positions on the new permanent SABC board is happening TODAY and kicks off at 10:00.

You can watch the proceedings LIVE (i do and enjoy it tremendously!) on The Parliamentary Service (DStv 408). It should continue until around 16:00 today.

What makes it fun is the sometimes RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS that some of the candidates utter. Let's hope the government appoints more people like Pippa Green whose interview yesterday went very long because - ta da! - she ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT and the government officials who grilled her, knew that and wanted to know more.

Programming note: Watch the SABC board nominee interviews

Programming note: Today's interviewing process with the rest of the 31 candidates on the short list for the new SABC board has just started.

Just like yesterday (and it will continue tomorrow, the final day) you can watch it LIVE on The Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408).

The proceedings today, just like yesterday, will take place during the day until 17:00.

Programming note: Watch the SABC board nominee interviews

Programming note: It starts today and remember that you can watch the interviews with the 31 candidates nominated for the new permanent SABC board on TV.

The Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) will broadcast all the proceedings LIVE, TODAY, Wednesday and Thursday from about 10:00 until 17:00.

BREAKING. SOS wants ''maximum transparency'' in process to appoint new SABC board members

You're reading it here first. The Save our SABC Coalition (SOS) has just sent a letter to mr Ismail Vadi, chairperson of the portfolio committee on communications asking for ''MAXIMUM TRANSPARENCY'' in the interview and appointment process of the new SABC board members that will start on Tuesday.

Programming note: The Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) will broadcast all the proceedings LIVE on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from about 10:00 until 17:00 daily.

The SOS notes that there's PROBLEMS with the list of 31 candidates.

The SOS wants to know:
1.Why are there so few women on the first shortlist of 31 candidates despite the nomination of a numbe rof excellent women?
2.Why is there an over emphasis on business and government candidates?
3.What about the potential conflict of interest that some of the candidates have who are nominated?

The SOS want government to release their reasons for selecting these 31 people.
GOOD THING!
The SOS wants government to give reasons for the final selection of board members.
GOOD THING!
The SOS wants the PUBLIC and everyone who watches the SABC to be given the opportunity to comment on the final 12 candidates before it's presented to the national assembly at the end of the interview process.
GOOD THING!

The SOS wants all the candidates to be grilled about:
How they will ensure that they deliver on the SABC's mandate as public broadcaster?
How they will keep SABC news and programming UNTAINTED from interference by government and political parties?
What they know of the process of digital terrestrial migration (DTT) and how that is going to impact the SABC.
How they see the problematic funding structure of the SABC and their solutions.
How they see the SABC's accountability to US as the viewing public.
What individual candidates think of their conflicts of interest and how they are going to deal with these.

BREAKING. Interviews of SABC board candidates will be broadcast live - and I've got the complete list of names

You're reading it here first. I can give you the details of where you can watch it next week, and publish the complete list first.

I'm talking of the candidates (and scroll down for the COMPLETE list) who made the shortlist as nominees for the new permanent SABC board. The interviews will take place next week, so first this programming note:

The Parliamentary Service channel (DStv 408) will broadcast all the proceedings LIVE on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week from about 10:00 until 17:00 daily.

Watch it, it will surely make for interesting viewing to see and assess the knowledge they have (or DON'T have!) about the inner working of the SABC.

Here's the list of names:

1. Andile Mbeki

2. Baldwin Ngubane

3. Barbara Masekela

4. Cedric Gina

5. Clare O'Neill

6. Danfred Titus

7. David Masoma

8. David Niddrie

9. Desmond Golding

10. Haroun Moolla

11. Jane Barrett

12. John Matisson

13. Kenneth Herold

14. Khotso Khumalo

15. David Lewis

16. Max du Preez

17. Michael Louis

18. Nkomotane Motsepe

19. Ntebo Peri

20. Peter Harris

21. Pippa Green

22. Sheila Mmusi

23. Sibongile Shongwe

24. Suzanne Vos

25. Tebogo Makgatho Mello

26. Tselane Tambo

27. William Gumede

28. Zola Fihlani