TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 11 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ Oscar Pistorius is in prison for murder, so why does ESPN's (DStv 218 / StarSat 248) new documentary coming to South African and African viewers from 19 November treat him so kindly?

- Viewers complain that The Trials of Oscar Pistorius neglects the real victim - Reeva Steenkamp.

- Reeva Steenkamp deserves to be more than a footnote in the story of killer Oscar Pistorius.

- Controversy around the BBC and ESPN's shockingly slanted Oscar Pistorius documentary is justified.

- "Shame on you": Uproar over BBC and ESPN's disgusting Oscar Pistorius documentary.

■ South Africa's Simone Mashile of Below Deck slams Captain Lee Rosbach, says there are not enough people of colour in the yachting industry.

■ Lesflicks - the lesbian video streaming service thriving under lockdown and attracting subscribers from America to South Africa, India and Jamaica.

■ How the SABC's isiZulu radio dramas subverted Apartheid's grand design.

■ MultiChoice Ghana and child labour?: Meet Emmanuel (11), MultiChoice's youngest DStv installer.

This is obviously illegal and illegal child labour.

■ Trace Urban (DStv 325) apparently has original local programming nobody's heard about or that the media were told about - and then it got marred by technical problems.

■ Why you're seeing Kelly Clarkson with an eyepatch on in The Kelly Clarkson Show on M-Net (DStv 101).

■ Trojan TV: China's double-edged gamble with Mozambique's TV market.

China's StarTimes pay-TV operator wants to get a foothold and promote Beijing’s voice in Mozambique, but service and content issues may end up being a disservice to China’s image abroad.

■ New research: When kids watch a lot of TV, parents may end up being more stressed.

■ Virgin Media launches Virgin 360 as a new pay-TV service in the United Kingdom to rival Sky Q.

Fame-seeker or love-seeker? Reeva Steenkamp's best friend Gina Myers suddenly pops up as one of the 24 women in M-Net's The Bachelor SA - and it complicates things.

Is she there looking for love or looking for fame?

Gina Myers (31) the best friend of Reeva Steenkamp - shockingly killed and shot dead by convicted killer Oscar Pistorius exactly 6 years ago on Valentine's Day - suddenly emerged on M-Net (DStv 101) in The Bachelor SA on Thursday night.

There were audible gasps from viewers at M-Net's outdoor viewing event in Cape Town watching on a big screen when the celebrity make-up artist climbed out of a black limousine as one of the potential paramours of Lee Thompson.

Gina Myers was revealed as one of the 24 women selected out of the thousands who had entered the Rapid Blue produced reality dating competition.

In previous interviews Gina Myers described Reeva Steenkamp - who also appeared in a reality competition, Tropika Island of Treasure on SABC1 - as her "sister".

Reeva Steenkamp also stayed with the Myers family for half a year before she was murdered by Oscar Pistorius on that fateful Valentine's Day.

Before that Reeva Steenkamp and Gina Myers have been friends for 6 years.

The producers Rapid Blue, M-Net and Warner Bros. did extensive background checks on all of the women and knew of Gina Myers' connection with Reeva Steenkamp and her link to the victim of one of the most buzzed-about murder cases in South African true-crime history when they decided to cast her for The Bachelor SA.

People watching the first episode of The Bachelor SA at the Cape Town big screen outdoors screening on Thursday night on the field of Camps Bay High School immediately asked when Gina Myers appeared: "Is she there for the limelight?, "Is she looking for fame?"

It's often very difficult for the public, when someone closely linked to something, suddenly pops up in another guise.

Gina Myers obviously entered The Bachelor SA on M-Net in her own volition. Out of the thousands of women who entered, Rapid Blue and M-Net selected her as one of the final 24 women.

Gina Myers, Rapid Blue and M-Net were all aware that Gina Myers chose to become a public person on South African television as a contestant in a local reality show and that that would solicit public comments - possibly bad, neutral and good.

It will be interesting to see what South African viewers' reactions are to Gina Myers as well as the other remaining contestants as The Bachelor SA progresses.

And the press and Gina Myers? Will she be asked questions by the media about Reeva Steenkamp - and will she answer those?

How about whether, or what, reservations she might have about being in a high-profile, public relationship? What she possibly learnt from Reeva Steenkamp about fame and romantic relationships, and myriad other questions now of interest because of her decision to enter The Bachelor SA?

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer made-for-TV movie to debut on Lifetime on DStv on 18 November at 8pm.

Lifetime (DStv 131) will broadcast the biographical film, Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer, on Saturday 18 November at 8pm in South Africa and Africa, following the paralympic killer's brother who gave the made-for-TV movie a lot of publicity by saying the Pretorius family will take "legal action" over the film.

Unlike elsewhere in Africa film and TV shows can no longer be banned in South Africa after the end of apartheid and under artistic creative licence, filmmakers and writers are allowed to interpret and re-interpret any story they want, including biographical tales of people's lives.

Both the family of Oscar, as well as the family of Reeva Steenkamp expressed unhappiness with the film although only Oscar's brother, Carl Pistorius, claimed that the Pistorius family would be taking "legal action".

Having killed Reeva Steenkamp, Oscar Pistorius is portrayed by actor Andreas Damn with Toni Garrn playing Reeva Steenkamp who was tragically gunned down in the crime case that kept the nation riveted.

A+E Networks and Lifetime says it's open about the fact that the upcoming Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer made-for-TV movie has not been endorsed by the families of either Oscar Pistorius or Reeva Steenkamp and that it's anticipated to "elicit mixed reactions in South Africa".

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer was written by Amber Benson and produced by Eric Tomosunas and Swirl Films for Thinkfactory Media for Lifetime that is part of A+E Networks.

A+E Networks Africa says the film "is based on a true story and public records".

"Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer also looks at how Reeva’s brutal death shocked the world and details the court room drama that followed. The families of Oscar and Reeva did not participate in the making of this movie."

Confused brother of killer Oscar Pistorius says family will take 'legal action' over Lifetime's biopic, Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer.

The confused brother of the blade runner killer Oscar Pistorius says the Pistorius family will be taking "legal action" over the upcoming Lifetime (DStv 131) film, Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer chronicling the sensational saga of how Oscar Pistorius gunned down and killed Reeva Steenkamp.

Carl Pistorius - who appears confused about the TV business as well as what freedom of speech entails - said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the Pistorius family is distancing themselves from the Lifetime film "produced by A+E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney – ABC Television Group".

Carl Pistorius is clearly clueless that Disney and ABC are the same company and that A+E Networks is not a joint venture between Disney-ABC, but between Disney-ABC Television and Hearst Communications.

Carl Pistorius also appears uninformed about what freedom of speech in South Africa, and worldwide, entails and that filmmakers and writers are allowed to interpret and re-interpret anything they want - and how they want to. It's called artistic creative licence.

Just like OJ Simpson, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Nelson Mandela and other high-profile people who've had several biopics and biographical films about their lives made, no one owns the story of their own life. 

It is absolutely legal for people to write unauthorized biographies, make documentaries or dramas about someone without needing their permission. You do not need permission to portray a real person in a work of art such as a book or movie.

A few years ago Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was upset about not being consulted for a Nelson Mandela film, and for her being portrayed by actress Jennifer Hudson. Ma Winnie couldn't take legal action.

In the statement on Tuesday Carl Pistorius, after getting the ownership of A+E Networks wrong, said "the 'film' was made with blatant disregard of both the Steenkamp and Pistorius families, as well as complete disregard for Reeva and Oscar. Neither Oscar, the defence or the family were involved in the production of this ‘film’ in anyway."

"The 'film' is not true reflection of what happened on the day of this tragedy and the subsequent trial of the matter. The 'film' is a gross distortion of the findings of the court."

"Oscar was subjected to a month long psychological evaluation which was insisted upon by the prosecution; the psychological evaluation of Oscar was undertaken by leading minds in the field. Oscar was subjected to in depth assessments and on-going tests almost daily for a month long; at no stage was Oscar found to have the mind of a killer."

"The 'film' is a gross misrepresentation of the truth. The 'film' is rather a representation of what the prosecution tried to portray.We will be taking legal action."

Having killed Reeva Steenkamp, Oscar Pistorius who is a killer, is portrayed by actor Andreas Damn with Toni Garrn playing Reeva Steenkamp who was tragically gunned down.

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer will debut on 11 November on Lifetime in the United States, with no date available yet for Lifetime in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer was written by Amber Benson and produced by Eric Tomosunas and Swirl Films for Thinkfactory Media.

In taking legal action, the Pistorius family looks as if it will be throwing more good money after bad.

A few years ago the family of the killed singer Aaliyah also threatened to stop Lifetime's film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B about the singer who died in a Bahamas plane crash in 2001 and wanted to stop production and the showing because they were not kept in the loop.

Although the relatives were up in arms, the world ended up watching Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B with talk show host Wendy Williams who produced it who said "The family doesn't want the story to be told but we're doing it anyway".

In 2011 The Guardian reported that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela felt insulted by the Winnie movie in which she was portrayed by Jennifer Hudson in the titular role.

Winnie's lawyers also threatened South African director Darrell Roodt to stop production, but the film went ahead.

"I was not consulted. I am still alive, and I think that it is a total disrespect to come to South Africa, make a movie about my struggle, and call that movie some translation of a romantic life of Winnie Mandela," Winnie told CNN.

Earlier this year Michael Jackson's family was offended by Lifetime's Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland movie that portrayed all of Michael's kids - Prince, Paris and Blanket - as well as his parents Joe and Katherine, and Dr Conrad Murray who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Michael's death.

The film aired.

OJ Simpson and the Kardashians were reportedly unhappy with their portrayal in the hit drama series American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson, as were the family of Whitney Houston with her 2015 Lifetime movie.

By saying the family will take legal action, the Pistorius family is giving Lifetime's upcoming Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer a huge international publicity and attention boost with earned media coverage that normal made-for-TV movie marketing budgets can't buy.

eNCA says it won't show viewers the photographs of the dead Reeva Steenkamp; SABC News shows blurred images; Sky News says 'gruesome' images not nice.

eNCA (DStv 403) on Wednesday says the TV news channel will not show viewers the gruesome and mutilated police photographs of a dead, bullet-wound filled Reeva Steenkamp while SABC News (DStv 404) showed viewers the images blurred with a warning, and Sky News (DStv 402) said the gruesome images are "not nice".

TV channels and media in South Africa who want to, can now show 6 shocking, selected police photographs that form part of the submitted evidence in the sensational Oscar Pistorius trial, previously banned by Judge Thokozile Masipa.

Reeva Steenkamp's parents, June and Barry Steenkamp, had the grim task of going through the sets of photographs and choose the 6 they want to share with the media and the public.

On Wednesday Judge Thokozile Masipa said media that wants to, can show the 6 released images, after Reeva Steenkamp's family like her father Barry Steenkamp on Tuesday asked for people to see the images to understand the excruciating pain her parents and family are experiencing daily.

"These photographs happen to be part of the evidence which is a public record," said Judge Thokozile Masipa.

"Initially not to make the photographs public was to protect the integrity of the family of the deceased. If the family of the deceased now feels that that protection is no longer necessary, it's not for me to interfere with that decision. For that reason I shall grant the request," said Judge Thokozile Masipa.


eNCA on Wednesday evening told viewers that "eNCA has the photographs but has decided not to show them on air. The channel does not believe that it is in the public interest to broadcast the images."


On Wednesday evening Sky News' Jeremy Thompson anchoring from outside the North Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg court this week, told viewers that "these pictures, basically restricted before, are basically close-ups of Reeva Steenkamp, with the bullet wounds. And they're gruesome pictures."

"We've seen them and I wouldn't want most people to see them. They're not nice," Jeremy Thompson said.


SABC News on Wednesday warned viewers that "some of the following visuals may upset sensitive viewers" in an excellent summary story of the day's court proceedings that was filed by Chriselda Lewis.

The warning likely also had to do with showing video of Oscar Pistorius waddling around on his stumps in court - the filed SABC News story showed some of the jaw-dropping scenes inside the court room on Wednesday when Reeve Steenkamp's killer removed his prosthetic legs.

In April 2014 both eNCA and the Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel - produced by Combined Artistic Productions on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform - showed viewers one of the highly disturbing images of a bloodied Reeva Steenkamp's head wound without any prior warning to viewers.

eNCA blamed the Combined Artistic Productions Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel which was providing the channel feed it was using.

Sky News, in a filed and edited story included the images on the same day, but blurred it.

In May 2013 Sky News showed viewers some of the blood-smeared rooms inside Oscar Pistorius' home.

Joan Rivers' shocking new and extremely tasteless Reeva Steenkamp joke on Fashion Police on E! Entertainment.

You're reading it here first. 

The American comedienne Joan Rivers and host of the weekly acerbic Fashion Police show on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) has made her most shocking and extremely tasteless joke about the Oscar Pistorius murder trial and the killing of model Reeva Steenkamp yet.

Choosing American pop star Christina Aguilera's blonde hair with knotty cornrow braids, hair extensions and red highlights at the VH1 Music Awards as her 4th must-see look of 2000, Joan Rivers shocked in the latest episode of Fashion Police calling it "the triple crown of skank do's".

"The last time I saw a blonde with red streaks in her hair she was laying on Oscar Pistorius' bathroom floor," said Joan Rivers.

Her daughter Melissa Rivers gasped, then laughed.

It's Joan Rivers' third extremely crass Oscar Pistorius murder trial joke the past four months.

In April she critiqued a star's footwear on Fashion Police on E! Entertainment saying "I have not seen footwear this f- up since Oscar Pistorius wobbled to the witness stand".

In another episode later in April Joan Rivers called a star's outfit a bad idea that "falls in between marrying Charlie Sheen and using Oscar Pistorius' bathroom".

The murder trial of the paralympic athlete who shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day, 14 February 2013, generated massive global interest and will resume on 7 August for closing arguments.

On 9 April The Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel (DStv 199) from Combined Artistic Productions, eNCA (DStv 403) and MultiChoice made South African television history when they showed the extremely graphic and unblurred image of Reeva Steenkamp's gruesome head injuries on the DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

While The Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel kept rebroadcasting the horrific image of Reeva Steenkamp's head damage during the day, Sky News in an edited news story only used pieces of the footage, blurred the images and warning viewers beforehand.

Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel on DStv shutting down until 7 August when it will broadcast again when closing arguments are to be heard.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel (DStv 199) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform is shutting down tonight at midnight for a third time since it began.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel will broadcast again from 08:00 on 7 August when the trial of the former paralympic athlete who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year on 14 February will resume.

The court is expected to hear closing arguments on 7 August and the Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel,produced by Combined Artistic Productions for DStv, will carry that court proceedings again live from this date.

Katy Katopodis, asked what she is going to be doing now with all her free time during evenings, told viewers on Tuesday night during her show Court Today with Katy, "grade two homework".

The most recent start-up of the Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel on DStv was a definite misfire: a toned-down, torn-down, reduced and redacted version of how the channel initially started.

The Oscar Pistorius Trial TV channel suddenly had reduced hours, changed shows and an altered schedule, none of which was not communicated, nor explained, in addition to a new amateurly and bad looking, green-screened virtual block fake-remake of the once amazing studio.

BREAKING. eNCA on shocking and gruesome Reeva Steenkamp image: 'eNCA has no control over the live pool feed, this is managed by Carte Blanche'.

In response to shocked South African viewers who yesterday saw - with no prior warning and no blurring - shocking images shown on South African television of the dead Reeva Steenkamp and her gruesome head injuries after being shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius - eNCA (DStv 403) says it didn't repeat broadcast the images and that it is M-Net's Carte Blanche controlling the TV feed, not eNCA.

The Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform on DStv channel 199 showed the gruesome, extremely graphic and highly disturbing images again later to viewers on Wednesday, unblurred, and with an on-screen restriction of just 13.

Sky News (DStv 402) in a filed and edited story late on Wednesday included the images, but blurred it, warned viewers, and told them the images on the monitor behind the prosecutor and the big image shown full-screen, are going to be blurred.

The shocking on-air broadcast on Wednesday of a dead Reeva Steenkamp's head made cringe-worthy South African television history.

It was the first time in South African television history that an an image/photo of a victim, photographed dead on the scene by the police, was shown on South African television in live TV coverage of a court case and a murder trial.

'"eNCA has no control over the live pool feed, this is managed by Carte Blanche," Patrick Conroy, the group head of news at Sabido's 24-hour TV news channel tells TV with Thinus.

"eNCA did not rebroadcast the image in later bulletins, although DStv channel 199 did. We cannot explain the rationale for doing so."

"Please note the clear direction we have from the prosecution is that broadcasters can show anything on the screens, for instance photos and Whatsapp messages. Where photos to be used are graphic, the prosecutors were alerting Carte Blanche beforehand".

"They informed us that the prosecution did not do so with the image used yesterday".

"Despite the Prosecution's silence on the matter, eNCA feels it would be gratuitous to show the image deliberately".

"We have as a result of this incident, implemented an on-screen graphic warning at all times, should another picture be inadvertently shown," says Patrick Conroy.

"It was a very, very graphic image," said Alex Crawford, the Sky News special correspondent, covering the Oscar Pistorius murder trial on Sky News, "showing both bullet entry and exit wounds, brain matter all in her hair. And it was utter shocking".

"It got uncomfortable for people seeing Reeva's head up there, and it being juxtaposed with the watermelon exploding because of some fired shots. It painted a graphic and disturbing picture," said prof. Tawana Kupe, Wits academic and journalist, interviewed Wednesday night on the Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel.

Besides eNCA, Sky News and the Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on DStv, viewers are also watching the live court room coverage of the highly sensational trial on SABC News (DStv 404) and ANN7 (DStv 405) which also use and show the live TV feed, as well as the Oscar Trial TV (OVHD 119) TV channel on OpenViewHD.

GRUESOME SHOCKER. South African TV makes history by showing for the first time a dead Reeva Steenkamp and shocking head injuries.

People in South Africa are completely shocked in today's Oscar Pistorius murder trial coverage as it was shown on television.

For the first time in South African history- and for the first time in South African television history - an image/photo of a victim, photographed dead on the scene, was shown on South African television in live TV coverage of a court case and a murder trial.

It happened when a gruesome and shocking image of victim Reeva Steenkamp, killed by Oscar Pistorius, taken by police on the night of the fatal shooting, was shown in full on TV on Wednesday.

(It is the side image visible on the screen at the right in the image above, which was shown, full screen, on broadcast television seconds later). 

While other TV channels had no on-air age restriction indicator, the Carte Blanche Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv 199, carried (only) the ongoing "13" age restriction. 

It's highly debatable whether this is/was remotely sufficient for the gruesome image which was shown on South African television today.

Broadcasters - not eNCA (DStv 403), ANN7 (DStv 405), SABC News (SABC News 404), OpenView HD's Oscar Pistorius Trial channel - had no prior warning that this shocking image of a dead Reeva Steenkamp and her head blown open, was going to be shown in court and with such severe and horrific impact. 

However, why the image was repeatedly being shown on television in repeat broadcasts of the court proceedings, is unclear - although a channel like the Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on MultiChoice did run an on-screen notification bar warning about "graphic evidence" and that "viewer discretion is advised".

Is the age restriction to show an image of a real-life person on broadcast television who is now dead - and who sustained gory and gruesome injuries and severe bodily trauma - only 13?

As a South African TV critic I do not have the answer to that question.

I'm deliberately not showing the image here - although people who tuned in to the TV channels broadcasting the court case had no prior warning and no choice.

They just unexpectedly saw it - the same way as the people inside the North Gauteng High Court who all let out a collective gasp.

Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, who have sat in court every day as she did today, did get prior warning from the prosecutor that the image was going to be shown in court today.

"It got uncomfortable for people seeing Reeva's head up there, and it being juxtaposed with the watermelon exploding because of some fired shots. It painted a graphic and disturbing picture," said prof. Tawana Kupe, Wits academic and journalist, later, when he was interviewed on the Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on Wednesday night.

"A very, very graphic image," said Alex Crawford, the Sky News correspondent, covering the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, "showing both bullet entry and exit wounds, brain matter all in her hair. And it was utter shocking".

I'm hiding the image which was shown on South African television behind a fold below. Do not scroll down further, or do not click on the link below if you do not want to see this image.

In edited news stories, 24-hour TV news channels like Sky News (DStv 402) which used pieces of the footage, it blurred both of the images, and told viewers before showing the specific scenes, that it blurred the images.

That an extremely graphic image like this was shown in a South African court is in itself not unusual. This is a murder case. 

What is highly unusual, and that happened for the first time on South African television, is that it was shown to a broad public - a viewing public which includes and can potentially include anybody. 

That is what makes the broadcast of this image shocking and unprecedented for South Africa and for South African television and for South Africa's legal profession.

It's never happened before, is unknown territory, and potentially exposes people who did not want to see something like this - for instance a 15 year old, or a 55 year old, not tuned into a news programme - to something they can't "unwatch".

If you want to see it, you will have to click on the link below at the end of this article, but I cannot stress enough that it is highly disturbing, makes for disturbing viewer, and shouldn't be watched by sensitive people.

BREAKING. eNCA going with 'gavel-to-gavel' live Oscar Pistorius murder trial coverage on television; doing a special Sunday preview.

eNCA (DStv 403) plans to broadcast "gavel-to-gavel" live coverage of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial for viewers whenever its allowed in the courtroom, and will have comprehensive reporting with nightly TV specials of the day's events between 19:00 and 20:00, repeated at 22:00.

ANN7 (DStv 405) did not announce Oscar Pistorius court trial coverage plans on television, but besides eNCA, MultiChoice will run a dedicated, 24-hour Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on DStv on channel 199, and the Sabido-owned Platco Digital will also run its own dedicated, 24-hour Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel on OpenView HD (OVHD) on channel 119.

eNCA says the South African TV news channel will have an hour long Oscar Pretorius murder trial preview show on Sunday night at 18:00 as it gears up for covering "one of the biggest news stories of the year".

From Monday 3 March eNCA will broadcast live courtroom coverage and ongoing expert analysis and interpretation from a special vantage point outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

eNCA will use its specialist court reporter Karyn Maughan who has covered the story right from that shocking day last year on Valentine's Day when Oscar Pretorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

eNCA's team of reporters who will also cover the unfolding court room and news proceedings include Annika Larson, Phakamile Hlubi, Uveka Rangappa, Cathy Mohlahlana, Jeremy Maggs, Iman Rappetti and Gareth Edwards who will field anchor from outside the Pretoria court room.

"Everyone will be covering the Oscar Pistorius trial," says Patrick Conroy, eNCA's group head of news.

"The difference will be the quality of reporting, accuracy and insights into what is going on. We have specialist reporters to do this. We will also provide consistent updates on Twitter and our website enca.com".

"While the Oscar Pistorius trial is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the year, we will make sure our viewers also get regular updates on all other important news stories," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director.

BREAKING. eNCA - joined by MultiChoice and Primedia - to apply on Wednesday to televise the Oscar Pistorius muder trial.

The South African 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) will bring an application on Wednesday, 19 February, before the North Gauteng High Court to televise the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.

ALSO READ: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) wants the world to watch the Oscar Pistorius murder trial court proceedings live on television.

On Valentine's Day 2013, the Paralympic athlete, known as "The Bladerunner" shot and killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He will now stand trial from 3 March as he is accused of alleged premeditated murder.

eNCA says the TV news channel wants to televise the murder trial and will bring the court application tomorrow.

"Alternatively we will ask the court to permit use of audio only if television cameras are not permitted. We are acutely aware of the sensitivities around televising a criminal trial, and that many witnesses may not want to appear on TV".

MultiChoice and Primedia have joined eNCA's application.

"Over the past 10 years eNCA and sister company e.tv have made great strides in covering court cases," says the news channel. "It is now fairly common practice to allow cameras into court for arguments and judgments".

"On this basis we were granted limited access to the Schabir Shaik corruption trial, judgment in President Jacob Zuma's rape case as well as Julius Malema's appearance before the Equality Court".

"However broadcasting witness testimony has not been permitted to date in criminal matters," says eNCA.

"With the advent of social media networks it is now possible to offer real-time updates from the courtroom, which effectively amounts to live coverage albeit in a printed form".

"It is our view that micro-blogging is prone to inaccurate reporting, sensationalism and lacks context or nuance, while a broadcast of events can help audiences understand exactly what is being said and the tone in which testimony is delivered"

"The court will have to consider the need for openness and transparency in the justice system with the defendant's right to a fair trial," says eNCA. 

"We will argue that a balance can be struck with the courts in order to achieve both. eNCA will comment further after the application is heard. It is unclear when the High Court will rule on the matter".

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

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

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

Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hour long Oscar Pistorius special report Sunday on Carte Blanche on M-Net, before South Africa's 'trial of the century'.

Carte Blanche on M-Net will have an hour long TV special report on Oscar Pistorius this Sunday, 16 February, at 19:00 before South Africa's "trial of the century" starts on 3 March.

The Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius known as the "bladerunner" shot and killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day, 14 February last year. A trial in which he is accused of premeditated murder, will start in March.

Carte Blanche anchor Derek Watts teased that production company Combined Artistic Productions were working on an Oscar Pistorius TV special earlier last month.

Combined Artistic Productions is also providing an Oscar Pretorius special TV channel to MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform which will run for the duration of the court trial.

On Sunday Carte Blanche will devote the hour to a special report on Oscar Pistorius in which leading crime scene experts will reveal "startling findings" according to the pay-TV broadcaster's weekly investigative magazine show.

Sophia Phirippides is the producer of the hour long Carte Blanche special, with Amalia Christoforou as journalist and Subniv Babuta as presenter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BREAKING. Sky News scoops Oscar Pistorius blood-filled exclusive images of death scene; CNN International gets exclusive interviews.

Sky News (DStv 402) is the to-tune-to 24-hour news channel of the day today with a massive exclusive: stark blood-filled black-and-white images of the death scene where the paralympic South African Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp earlier this year.

Ironically CNN International (DStv 401) today is a close second as have to-watch news channel - the Oscar Pistorius spin doctor PR machine masterminded exclusive sit-down interviews with CNN International's Robyn Curnow.

Ironically Team Oscar most probably didn't know, and never could have anticipated, that the exclusive interviews with Oscar's uncle and Oscar's agent on CNN International would be running on the same day and at the same time as Sky News is splashing its huge TV exclusive of gory images taken by police of the scene where gruesome shots rang out from Oscar Pistorius' weapon who has now been charged with murder.

Add to that the new splashy tawdry tabloid coverage from South Africa's biggest tabloid weekly magazine which ramped and hyped up its Oscar Pistorius Reeva Steenkamp melodrama again in the latest issue out again today.

Sky News isn't specifying where it got the images of Alex Crawford's story. "Sky News has obtained exclusive pictures from inside the home of the paralympic medalist Oscar Pistorius including of the blood-stained bathroom where he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp," is how Sky News prefaces its exclusive today.

Tropika drops it like its hot: Tropika done as sponsor of the advertiser-funded production Tropika Island of Treasure on SABC1.

Clover's Tropika brand is done with the advertiser-funded production (AFP) and reality show Tropika Island of Treasure.

Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica is currently being broadcast with the dead Reeva Steenkamp as a contestant who was shot dead in the head by her boyfriend, the paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius.

Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead and died a violent death three days before the advertiser-funded show was to start on South African television; SABC1 and the production company Stimulii decided to go ahead and show the programme.

On the day of the first episode of Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica on SABC1, Tropika gleefully tweeted about a "killer deal": 100 cases of Tropika today".

Tropika and the show received global exposure since February as news channels and news programmes across the world clamoured for clips from Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica as part of its reporting on the tragic Oscar Pistorius shooting death case.

The AFP jumped from e.tv to SABC1 for the current season. Tropika will no longer be a sponsor when the next season of the on-air marketing activation rolls around. The 6th season will take place in the Seychelles but Tropika's sponsorship is ending with the current season.

Neither Clover and Tropika, nor SABC1, nor the production company gave any reasons for the end of the sponsorship in a press statement, only saying that "the next season of Island of Treasure will see a new sponsor which will undoubtedly bring about a few exciting new changes to the format".

"Viewers should look forward to an even more entertaining season," says Vukile Madlala, SABC1 publicity manager in the statement.

Samantha Moon, Stimulii CEO says in the statement "Island of Treasure will continue to bring the hottest, quality entertainment to SA screens".

TOLDJA! Special Oscar Pistorius 'What Really Happened?' documentary coming to Discovery Channel this Sunday 24 March.

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It's the sensational case transfixing not just South Africa but the world, and now the quick-turnaround special hour long documentary Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? is coming to South Africa and will be shown this Sunday 24 March on The Discovery Channel (DStv 121) at 20:55 (South African time).

On Friday I wrote that Discovery Networks International had acquired the broadcasting rights to the special investigative British documentary Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? which was just shown in the United Kingdom to record ratings and was also just sold to Discovery in America where it will be shown as Blade Runner: The Untold Story.

The hour long special documentary from Passion Distribution which is sure to make a massive viewership splash when it's shown in South Africa on Sunday, was quickly filmed and managed to get rare access to several people and places connected to Oscar Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp who he shot and killed. 

Oscar Pistorius has been charged with premeditated murder in a case which has gripped the world's attention. Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty, claiming the shooting was a terrible accident, but the extraordinary case has left many people asking many questions.

The superb documentary produced by Mentorn Media with Rick Edwards as the presenter will give South African viewers the chance to delve deeper into the tragic Valentines Day shooting case which has propelled model and reality star Reeva Steenkamp and the paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius to front page news in a story which has rocked the world.

Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? was filmed in South Africa and digs deeper into this unprecedented case by bringing viewers new interviews, fresh information and exclusive insights from some of the friends and family of Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius - as well as those close to the case.

Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? will take viewers inside Reeva Steenkamp's bedroom by her best friend Gina Meyers, who speaks movingly of their friendship. 

The documentary also interviews Reeva Steenkamp's ex-boyfriend who met her for coffee the day before the was shot and killed, and speaks to close friends of Oscar Pistorius as well who all share stories about the athlete they knew and his current state since he was released on bail.

"Since news broke of this tragic event, the entire world has been speculating about what actually happened that Valentine's morning. The appetite for further knowledge about the case is incredibly strong - especially in South Africa where the story is still headline news," says Lee Hobbs, the channel director for emerging business for Discovery Networks' Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region.

"Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? will give Discovery Channel viewers more information about the case and the national hero's dramatic reversal of fortune."

Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened? is on Sunday, 24 March on Discovery Channel (DStv 121) at 20:55.

Reeva Steenkamp struggles blowing blue balls as a challenge on Tropika Island of Treasure 5 Jamaica.

Reeva Steenkamp and fellow contestants struggled to blow up big blue balls in the latest episode of Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica on SABC1 on Saturday evening.

In a Tropika beach ball immunity challenge in the advertiser-funded production's latest episode, the model partook in a challenge of trying to inflate big blue beach balls branded with the Tropika logo with fellow contestants within a certain number of minutes.

Jay Anstey made it but the others failed and are now up for eviction from the island.

Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius who is accused of premeditated murder, but she can still be seen in the reality show after SABC1 and producers Stimulii decided to continue with the show which started broadcasting on South African television three days after her death.

"I think everyone felt that blowing up the balls was going to be easy but I mean, we literally nearly passed out three or four times," Reeva Steenkamp said in the episode after the challenge.

ALSO READ: Reeva Steenkamp not included in the "In Memorian" tribute at the 7th South African Film and Television Awards; segment however done right for the first time ever.

PROPERLY DONE. Reeva Steenkamp not included in the 'In Memoriam' tribute of the 7th Saftas; segment done right the first time ever.

Reeva Steenkamp, the current Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica contestant on SABC1 who was shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius was strangely left out of the "In Memoriam" tribute of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night - however the usually always botched "In Memoriam" tribute was for the first time ever in the history of this usually dismal South African TV awards show, done properly and right.

The "In Memoriam" segment is a tribute dedicated to South African film and television talent who've passed away in the past year.

Besides the noticeable Reeva Steenkamp ommission, the Saftas "In Memoriam" segment, usually painfully pathetic for a litany of production problems, for the first time ever were not marred by mistakes. 

Unlike in the past with the Saftas during the "In Memoriam" tribute no names were obscured by the musical act or weird camera angles, names were each individually flashed, fully, on screen and were then also shown on the stage screen.

There were no spelling mistakes, no sound problems, and the string heavy sentimental musical number "Khumbul'Ekhaya" performed live by The Muffinz was appropriate in tone and performance and perfect. The simple design of black-and-white tribute cards also worked.

"Thank you to The Muffinz for a deeply moving tribute to some very talented people. They may be gone, but their work lives on," said Connie Ferguson, co-host of the 7th Saftas.

The Saftas "In Memoriam" segment honoured Marjorie Brooks-Morris, Greg Cameron, Jan de Klerk, Jaco Espach, Justin Wayne Fouche, Milla Louw, Hulisani Memetsi, Richard Matthews, Thami Geoffrey Mbenge, Humble Mhlongo, Morgan Naidu, Lloyd B. Phillips, Llewelyn Roderick, Daniel Richmond Setshedi, Zwelakhe Sisulu, Andre Smit, Andrew Thompson and Louis van Rensburg.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? Carte Blanche on M-Net goes barkers during interview with Reeva Steenkamp's parents.

In the worst production values in many years, M-Net's weekly current affairs magazine show Carte Blanche on Sunday at 19:00 had more dogs barking than what you could almost actually hear people talk, when Derek Watts interviewed the parents of the killed Reeva Steenkamp, Barry and June Steenkamp.

In the terribly bad interview from a production point of view, spliced into a bigger story about Oscar Pistorius killing Reeva Steenkamp, Derek Watts made it into the living room of the Sea View home in Port Elizabeth of Barry and June Steenkamp last Wednesday.

There was clearly no "do overs" here, with incessant barking of dogs which for me terribly spoiled the interview. A South African journalist based in New York who saw it on Sunday also incredulously, without me even talking about it, SMS'ed me and asked: "What on Earth is up with all of the dogs and the barking? It's so bad."

The interview itself wasn't very long. Is that all Carte Blanche got or was the rest simply unusable I wondered to myself. Carte Blanche even faded out over Barry Steenkamp talking and his mouth moving. What he was saying was completely inaudible to the viewer.

This latest Carte Blanche episode is available to view on DStv on Demand until Sunday afternoon in which a grim-faced Derek Watts talks to a very emotional Barry Steenkamp who can hardly speak and June Steenkamp who is also emotionally distraught and on the verge of crying judged by her vocal tone.

As a TV critic I didn't get any forewarning or notification before Sunday from M-Net - and I asked others and neither did they - that Carte Blanche had the Steenkamp parents' first TV interview exclusive. In fact the whole episode and even a Twitter insert was all about the Oscar Pistorius killing scandal saga.

I noticed it late on Sunday afternoon on the DStv EPG but by then it was to late to try and write something or do anything about it.

Of course as the world works, then the BBC and the New York Post suddenly called me on Sunday about it. I was out with friends, but luckily had set a recording, and rushed home to watch it in order to talk on the BBC about the Carte Blanche must-watch footage I almost didn't even know about and to help the newspaper.