Anchor Robyn Curnow exits CNN International: 'Thanks for the endless laughs, the cynicism and idealism and some damn fine journalism'.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's Robyn Curnow who has been with CNN International (DStv 401) for 21 years has exited the TV news channel where she has been an anchor the past few years.

"I've decided it's time for a change," Robyn Curnow wrote on Instagram, saying "This is my decision".

"I'm excited for the plans I've been cooking up recently."

Robyn Curnow used to anchor International Desk on CNN International, moved to weekends, then did weeks and weekends, and then anchored hours across various CNN International.

Robyn Curnow exits CNN International after anchor Hala Gorani's abrupt exit last week.

On Instagram, Robyn Curnow wrote "20 years as CNN correspondent and anchor. And I've decided it's time to change. This is my decision. I'm excited for the plans I've been cooking up recently. Mostly, at this moment when I reflect on my career, I feel profound thanks to all my CNN colleagues and friends around the world".

"Thanks to you all - fellow on-air folk, producers, photographers, directors, control room gurus, master control magicians, studio wizards - for the endless laughs, the cynicism and idealism, and some damn fine journalism".

Latest CNN International schedule change sees South African weekday anchor Robyn Curnow moved to weekends; International Desk and CNN Today replaced by two other programmes.

CNN International (DStv 401) has again changed the TV news channel's schedule, with the latest changes coming into effect on Monday 23 September that saw the cancellation of International Desk with  Robyn Curnow as well as CNN Today with Amara Walker and Michael Holmes, replaced with two other programmes.

South Africa's Robyn Curnow is bumped to weekends where she will now be anchoring CNN Newsroom with Robyn Curnow at some undisclosed time not provided by CNN International and not listed on MultiChoice's bad DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) that is once again not updated and stillold, and CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes, also at some undisclosed time.

CNN International has now added The Brief with Bianca Nobilo on weeknights at 23:00 that will follow after The Lead with Jake Tapper, with the live show done from its London bureau. CNN says this half-hour show will cover the United Kingdom and beyond.

Replacing CNN Today is the 2-hour Your World Today with Isa Soares and Cyril Vanier at midnight, also done from London, that is "break down the day’s most important and talked-about stories around the world, giving context around the news that dominated the day for viewers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while informing viewers in Asia about the stories that will help shape theirs".

CNN International is also giving more time to Connect the World with Becky Anderson with the show show done live from CNN Abu Dhabi that is adding another hour to become a 2-hour show at 16:00.

Mike McCarthy, the senior vice president of programming and general manager at CNN International, says "We are delighted to be launching these new shows – which will form a key part of our industry-leading European evening and Asia morning programming lineup – and renewing our commitment to the Middle East with the expansion of Connect the World."

The new CNN International afternoon and prime time schedule is now:

14:00 CNN Newsroom with Max Foster (CNN London)

14:30 World Sport (CNN Atlanta)
15:00 First Move with Julia Chatterley (NYSE)
16:00 Connect the World with Becky Anderson (CNN Abu Dhabi)
18:00 The Express (NYSE)
19:00 Amanpour (CNN London)
20:00 Hala Gorani Tonight (CNN London)
21:00 Quest Means Business (CNN New York)
22:00 The Lead with Jake Tapper (CNN Washington)
23:00 The Brief with Bianca Nobilo (CNN London)
23:30 World Sport (CNN Atlanta)
00:00 Your World Today with Isa Soares and Cyril Vanier (CNN London, 2 hours)

South Africa's Eleni Giokos steps up as fill-in anchor for the week on Quest Means Business in CNN International's New York studios.

Eleni Giokos stepped up as fill-in anchor on Monday night for the week on CNN International's Quest Means Business in a move that could indicate a looming shift in her on-air status as a South African correspondent at the Turner Broadcasting news channel.

Despite mistakes and delivery problems, Eleni Giokos - formerly a financial correspondent and anchor at CNBC Africa, eNCA and Bloomberg Television - made it through her first edition behind the transparent desk in CNN's New York studios.

She is filling in for Richard Quest until Friday who is on assignment for his monthly CNN Business Traveller segment, trying to fly around the world in 8 days using only low-cost airlines. The two first met in May 2013 when Richard Quest visited eNCA (DStv 403) in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

Eleni Giokos joined CNN International (DStv 401) in October 2015 as Africa business correspondent after a short stint at Bloomberg Television.

With Eleni Giokos sitting in as anchor for Quest Means Business at the Time Warner Center it means that viewers this week can see two South Africans anchoring programming blocks on CNN International, the other being Robyn Curnow as the face of International Desk.

The move also signals that Eleni Giokos' status at the news channel could possibly once again be changing soon.

She was flown all the way to New York to specifically anchor the show which has a well-stocked existing reserve bench of accomplished substitutes in the form of Maggie Lake, Poppy Harlow and London-based anchors.

Before fellow South African Robyn Curnow in mid-2014 was announced as a new CNN International anchor and moved from the Johannesburg bureau to Atlanta, she also flew to the CNN headquarters for several meetings, screen tests and then mentoring and training before settling in behind the International Desk.

It's very likely that Eleni Giokos' anchoring stint this week at 23:00 South African time on CNN International is a try-out for a bigger on-screen role as CNN management gets a first-hand look and sense of her capabilities.

The Monday night episode was marred by ongoing reading difficulties and mistakes throughout, as well as lots of "uhm's" and a staccato presentation - most likely due to uneven teleprompter scrolling that's not yet attuned to Eleni Giokos' delivery style, as well as too many voices through the earpiece to give attention to whilst reading.

A live interview with a rambling Maria Ramos as Barclays Africa CEO was a disaster, at least two guests had visible earpiece problems, and an esoteric Anbang Starwood Hotels report was extremely difficult to follow.

Her Monday night debut in the faux library loft that ran a few minutes over time at the end wasn't Eleni Giokos at her self-assured best although her presentation will very likely improve in the way she excelled at CNBC Africa and especially eNCA where she brought viewers much more than just financial news with aplomb.

BRILLIANT. Robyn Curnow is anchoring on CNN International - and the result couldn't be more ... unexpectedly amazing.

"Shock" would probably be a good word to describe watching Robyn Curnow as an anchor on CNN International (DStv 401).

She is that great.

Not that anybody thought that South Africa's Robyn Curnow wouldn't be able to make the transition from CNN correspondent in Johannesburg to behind the anchor desk at CNN International, but her simply tour de force presentation and delivery with gravitas is simply brilliant to behold.

Robyn Curnow anchored The World Right Now on Monday night on CNN International and if you had to find even the smallest fault it would be that she was too good. Brilliant in fact.

Full disclaimer: Robyn Curnow is South African and this writer and TV critic happens to be a South African too.

Yet I'm not saying Robyn Curnow as a CNN International anchor is amazing because of any country or nationalistic affiliation or affinity. It's because she really is.

It's quite surprising seeing Robyn Curnow coming across as incredibly solid, hugely grounded, looking terrifically at ease, exuding a massive amount of confidence (not in herself but in delivering the news and interviewing news makers) and taking it all in her stride.

What's so incredible, is that Robyn Curnow comes across as if she's been doing it for years.

Her anchoring on CNN International blends freshness and a nuanced, yet natural newsey relatableness. Her questions of news makers and other CNN contributors and correspondents were succinct, clear and on point.

On Monday night it felt and looked as if Robyn Curnow was an Olympic swimmer. One who've been swimming and practising for years and who suddenly got dropped in a new bigger pool - yet one who completely unperturbed, is still swimming laps around everyone else.

As a viewer watching, it not only felt as if Robyn Curnow was driving the car, you felt instantly "safe" in the car - and it felt as if the car is going somewhere, not just aimlessly trying to go forward another mile, trying to fill another 10 minutes of satellite TV air.

There was sense, there was purpose, there was direction.

Whoever decided to elevate Robyn Curnow from CNN correspondent to CNN International anchor made the right decision.

This TV critic thought it would be a huge loss for South Africa and CNN International to lose her amazing background knowledge, contacts and skill set on the ground in Johannesburg, especially after her superb ongoing reporting from South Africa especially during the tumultuous, numerous big news events of 2013.

And it probably is.

Yet it turns out that Robyn Curnow as CNN anchor is just as good as Robyn Curnow the CNN International correspondent - in a really great new way.

Sometimes, some people are just able to fit various different molds all well - like the head girl who also "just" happens to be the captain of the netball team, who also "just" happens to be the academic dux pupil.

Until you realise "just" has nothing to do with it.

Perhaps hours and hours of practice, on-air anchor coaching and lessons to discern a cat baby meow from 15 other voices all screaming and talking and the same time in an earpiece took place. Perhaps none or very little.

What's undeniable is that Robyn Curnow is instantly, fully, solid CNN International TV news anchor material. Strikingly so.

BREAKING. CNN International's Robyn Curnow, Kim Norgaard leaving South Africa as Robyn Curnow is set to become a CNN anchor in Atlanta.

Robyn Curnow is leaving South Africa where she was a correspondent for CNN International (DStv 401) to become an anchor on the channel from Atlanta, going with husband Kim Norgaard, who is CNN International's bureau chief in Johannesburg - as the 24-hour TV news channel continues to suck up and extract experienced TV news talent out of South Africa.

Robyn Curnow is relocating to Atlanta with Kim Norgaard CNN International confirms to TV with Thinus.

Robyn Curnow left South Africa earlier this year to visit Atlanta - in hindsight clearly for talks and on-camera testing - but said that she isn't going anywhere and would be back to South Africa. She did return but will now be moving permanently to Atlanta in the United States.

Robyn Curnow has been CNN International's South African based correspondent since 2008 and also did the magazine strand CNN Marketplace Africa talking to business, company and investment leaders on the continent.

It was Robyn Curnow's simply terrific coverage and stellar reporting on both the Oscar Pistorius murder case and the death and funeral of former president Nelson Mandela which elevated her into a whole new bracket of international news reporting status as she showcased her exceptional communication skills on television as well as her immense background knowledge and off-the-cuff insight.

Robyn Curnow and Kim Norgaard's upcoming relocation signals an ongoing, quick and very dramatic gutting of CNN's pool of extremely talented and experienced TV news people in South Africa as an exodus continues of highly qualified, highly experienced and highly trained TV news people moving out of South Africa to CNN in Atlanta, and elsewhere.

Nkepile Mabuse left CNN International last year for eNCA's (DStv 403) new investigative magazine strand Checkpoint, and eNCA's chief meteorologist Derek van Dam resigned and will be leaving South Africa soon to become a meteorologist for CNN International in Atlanta too.

Errol Barnett, who was based in Johannesburg for CNN International and who was the face of Inside Africa, was also extracted and replaced, with no announcement, as Soni Methu suddenly took over as host of the magazine programme, from Kenya.

Errol Barnett has moved in behind the news desk doing anchor duty on CNN.

The exit from Africa of Robyn Curnow and bureau chief Kim Norgaard - who will apparently work at CNN's foreign desk - together with Nkepile Mabuse and Errol Barnett leaves a big hole in terms of recognisable, trusted, and experienced TV news people to cover South Africa and Southern Africa for CNN International on the ground.

Of course Derek van Dam's relocation is also a loss to South Africa's TV industry.

There's been no word to the South African press of the specific moves and changes, nor replacements so far.

"Robyn Curnow is moving to CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, where she will be starting a new chapter in her CNN career," the South African PR firm representing CNN International, Burson-Marsteller, tells TV with Thinus.

"Kim Norgaard is also moving to CNN's headquarters, where he will be taking on a new role in the network's senior editorial team. CNN will be announcing details of these new roles soon, as well as both Robyn Curnow and Kim Norgaard's replacements in CNN's South Africa bureau".

BREAKING. Dudley Saunders: 'He wasn't just cool, he was also kind and extremely hardworking," says Robyn Curnow, CNN Int correspondent.

Dudley Saunders oozed confidence and knowledge and encouraged and supported every TV reporter he was out with doing a story, says Robyn Curnow, CNN International's correspondent in South Africa and who worked with the legendary cameraman over many years.

Robyn Curnow is weighing in, as is the rest of South Africa's shocked TV industry, following the unexpected death of the beloved and fearless cameraman Dudley Saunders on Tuesday in a freak accident while filming a story with the British production company Arrow Media.

"Duds was one of the first cameramen I worked with when I started reporting for the SABC in 1996," Robyn Curnow, who is also the anchor of the weekly CNN Marketplace Africa, tells TV with Thinus.

"I never studied journalism, I learnt my trade from working with him. He didn't do it on purpose - he just oozed confidence and knowledge. Pictures, words, angles, interviews ... he had a natural ability to support you and encourage you."

"We were kind of a team for many years, travelling the country and documenting Nelson Mandela's new South Africa for the nightly news bulletin," says Robyn Curnow.

"He would swagger into a newsroom, cigarette in hand, hair shaved bald and a camera slung over his shoulder. He wasn't just cool, he was also kind and extremely hardworking. Every story was important. Dudley would flirt with the interviewee, charm a stubborn policeman and be patient with an old pensioner."

"With Dudley there was always lots of adventures, Jack Daniels and damn good journalism," says Robyn Curnow.

BREAKING. CNN International's Christiane Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, Isha Sesay, Arwa Damon, all in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.

Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper of CNN International (DStv 401) are now both also in South Africa to lead unprecedented coverage of the death and funeral and celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela.

CNN International now has the biggest team of reporters deployed in South Africa to cover the death of Nelson Mandela and South Africa and the world's reaction to his passing.

Christiane Amanpour who arrived today in Johannesburg was instantly recognised and greeted at immigration with a "thank you for coming to honour Mr Mandela".

Besides the CNN heavy-hitters Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper, CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon is now also in South Africa.

Isha Sesay is also heading to South Africa who've been reporting on Nelson Mandela from Soweto just a few months ago.

Chris Cuomo seen mostly on CNN in America but who've appeared on CNN International a few times in 2013 when CNN International takes the CNN US feed, has also arrived in South Africa and instantly started Nelson Mandela coverage.

Besides them, South Africa's David McKenzie, CNN International's correspondent in China, returned to South Africa on Saturday as I've previously reported.

They all join South Africa's Robyn Curnow who've already distinguished herself with instantly stellar reporting regarding the death of Nelson Mandela.

Errol Barnett who's based in Johannesburg and who've been already to Zimbabwe for a reaction story over this past weekend is also already back in Johannesburg and reporting live from Houghton on CNN International on Monday afternoon.

Charlene Hunter-Gault who've covered South Africa for many years, working for among others, CNN International, and now NBC News, also travelled to South Africa.

Besides CNN International's heavy presence of correspondents in South Africa, here is the already massive - and growing list - of foreign correspondents and TV reporters who've travelled to South Africa and who remain here to cover the biggest official funeral the world has yet seen:

Jeremy Thompson (Sky News), Stuart Ramsay (Sky News), Robert Nisbet (Sky News), Brian Williams (NBC News), Richard Engel (NBC News), Lester Holt (NBC News), Ron Allen (NBC News), Komla Dumor (BBC World News), Jon Sopel (BBC World News), Fergal Keane (BBC World News), Ros Atkins (BBC World News), Byron Pitts (ABC News), Alex Marquardt (ABC News), TerryMoran (ABC News), Greg Palkot (Fox News Channel), Mike Hanna (Al Jazeera), Jonah Hull (Al Jazeera), Bill Whitaker (CBS News), Mark Phillips (CBS News).

BRILLIANT. AMAZING. SUCCINCT. EXCELLENT. Robyn Curnow on CNN International shines with exceptional Nelson Mandela coverage.

After news broke that Nelson Mandela has died, CNN International (DStv 401) shined with the best rolling coverage on television of Madiba's death - the best TV news reporter was unquestionably South Africa's own Robyn Curnow.

Robyn Curnow's ongoing reporting, insight, analysis and succinct coverage all night on CNN International late on Thursday and continuing into the early hours of Friday was simply brilliant, amazing, informed, succinct and excellent. Everything else paled by comparison.

From her word choices to emotive pauses, instant relevant background information and stories; from her exceptional, seamless switching between anecdotal information, to perspective pieces, to the reporting of new facts, Robyn Curnow was a one woman international television news superstar on Thursday and Friday.

Robyn Curnow was basically faultless as an indefatigable TV reporter on CNN International, providing viewers with insight, news and the best context on Nelson Mandela among any of the television channels accessible to South Africans.

South Africa's TV critics, TV writers and journalists covering the medium of television attended the SABC's quarterly preview in Johannesburg on Thursday night when news broke of Nelson Mandela's death. TV critics instantly gravitated to television as the medium of choice to track news developments.

TV critics were instantly unanimous in their praise of Robyn Curnow and her unbelievable depth of subject, her tireless presence in the moment across numerous hours on CNN, bringing answers, facts and insight when called on for the latest developing news and background perspective on Nelson Mandela.

On Friday TV critics were still raving about Robyn Curnow and agreed that her Nelson Mandela coverage is making her the single best TV correspondent to beat and buzzed about the gravitas and perceptive insight and articulation she showed in covering the breaking news for viewers.

'Very bad taste' Tropika Island of Treasure 5 Jamaica of SABC1 covered on CNN International; described as 'not helpful at all'.

Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica on SABC1 produced by Stimulii has now made it as a story onto CNN International (DStv 401) with the global 24-hour news channel saying that people are describing it as being "in very bad taste".

Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica features the dead model Reeva Steenkamp who was shot in the head and killed in the early hours of Thursday morning by the Olympic and paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius. A case of premeditated murder has been brought against Oscar Pistorius.

Hala Gorani talked with CNN International's South African correspondent Robyn Curnow about Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica on SABC1, noting that "some people are upset that it's airing at all".

"Reeva participated in this reality show and producers decided to air it after her death. What has been the reaction overall?" asked Hala Gorani.

"People are saying this is in very bad taste and really is not at all helpful," reported Robyn Curnow.

"On the other hand the producers and many South Africans tuned in. They wanted to see what she was like, what she sounded like. She's very pretty. A lot of people said it amplified even more how caring she seemed; what kind of a loss it was," said Robyn Curnow.

"It also depends on as we go on. She's going to be appearing every weekend until she is so-called evicted from this reality show. It is a bit strange for many people," said Robyn Curnow.

"Well you hear somebody speaking after their death; almost speaking from another world. It is strange I'll admit," said Hala Gorani.

ALSO READ: Killer runner Oscar Pistorius and reality star Reeva Steenkamp the main lead story on the NBC Nightly News on America on Sunday evening.
ALSO READ: "Eery", "shock to many" as Tropika Island of Treasure 5 makes the main news in America on NBC Nightly News and the CBS Evening News on Saturday.
ALSO READ: eNCA will try to do live coverage of the Oscar Pistorius court trial and judgement.
ALSO READ: Outside Eye on eNCA on Wednesday to look at Oscar Pistorius and how the international media is covering the murder case and South Africa.
ALSO READ: Charge of $3000 per foreign broadcaster to use clips of Reeva Steenkamp in Tropika Island of Treasure 5, reports The Independent.

A visibly emotional Robyn Curnow on CNN International cannot help but reach out and just hug a very sad woman in another SA rape story.

A visibly emotional Robyn Curnow on CNN International (DStv 401), fighting back her own tears, in the end couldn't help but reach out and simply just hug the poor and desperately sad woman talking with so much conviction and emotion in her voice after the death of teenage girl Anene Booysen - raped, savagely assaulted and left for dead in the small town of Bredasdorp.

Star TV reporters don't often reach out and hug the subjects or people in their stories. But when they do, and its heartfelt and so sincere, it makes for some of the most powerful television the medium can bring into our lives.

So sad and sobbing, so bitterly crying and utterly unconsolable was the woman Robyn Curnow spoke with in the small-town of Bredasdorp today, that in the end Robyn Curnow simply reached forward and hugged her.

Robyn Curnow's own eyes started welling up when the woman who didn't even know Anene Booysen but came to plant a wooden cross in remembrance in the dry dust and sand of Bredasdorp said with a quivering voice: "I don't know what we must do, but we must do something. Otherwise there is no use in giving birth to a baby boy if men treat women lower like animals."

As the woman started to cry and just stood there in Bredasdorp hot sun, Robyn Curnow became herself a television mother and the woman started to cry on her shoulder. Robyn Curnow became the TV reporter who not only come for the story, but who listens, who shows empathy, and who - for a moment - willingly carries the collective burden of an anguished society in pain, in trying to tell a story.

"One in three men have admitted to raping in this country. What does this mean about South African society? What does this mean about the future of this society? It takes a shocking, brutal savagery like this to make it onto CNN. Ordinarily these rapes don't even make it onto the front pages of newspapers," said Robyn Curnow on CNN International.

BREAKING. Robyn Curnow of Marketplace Africa on CNN International also gets a sit-down interview with Oprah shown tonight.

Erik Forster/CNN

It wasn't just CNBC Africa (DStv 410) - South Africa's TV reporter Robyn Curnow of CNN International (DStv 401) also scored a big sit-down TV interview with Oprah Winfrey which will be shown on Robyn Curnow's show Marketplace Africa tonight at 21:45 (South African time).

So much for the blatantly lying CNBC Africa which billed its South African sit-down TV interview with Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday as an ''exclusive''. It clearly wasn't.

Robyn Curnow's interview for Marketplace Africa also took the form of a sit-down interview in one of the classrooms at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Henley-on-Klip where the talk show titan visited this past weekend for the special graduation ceremony on Saturday of the first class of 72 girls who were the first to matriculate from her private girls' school.

''She was very generous with her time, delivered immaculate sound bites, offered up snippets of her own tragedies, created an intimacy with our crew in that small classroom and was, basically, a consummate performer,'' says Robyn Curnow, hinting about what viewers will be able to see in tonight's Marketplace Africa interview.

Robyn Curnow also fearlessly went there and asked Oprah Winfrey about the girl who secretly gave birth last year at the school after concealing her pregnancy. The pregnant teen's baby died and was hidden in a school bag. Oprah Winfrey answers, expressing her disappointment in the student, saying the girl showed ''poor leadership'' and is now at a different school.

Robyn Curnow also asks, and Oprah Winfrey answers, about the molestation scandal at the private girls' school, saying she did everything imaginable from protecting the girls but never imagined the danger would come from inside the school and women she had hired.

Robyn Curnow also asks about Barack Obama, and although Oprah Winfrey initially didn't want to talk about the American president (HERE is what Oprah Winfrey said on Tuesday on CNBC Africa in answer to the same question) - she then suddenly changes her mind and does.

Oprah Winfrey's interview on Marketplace Africa is shown tonight at 21:45 on CNN International, with rebroadcasts Saturday at 05:45, 08:15, 18:15 and Sunday at 03:15 and 18:15.

BREAKING. CNN International will have eight correspondents in South Africa to cover the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

CNN International (DStv 401) will have a team of eight correspondents based in South Africa for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

CNN International tells me that Pedro Pinto, Alex Thomas, Michael Holmes, Isha Sesay, Diego Bustos and the South African CNN reporters Robyn Curnow, Nkepile Mabuse as well as David McKenzie (who's actually CNN International's de facto correspondent in Nairobi, Kenia) will all be here for comprehensive coverage of match results as well as to do a wide variety of 2010 World Cup stories.

David McKenzie will spend the entire month traveling around South Africa in a Winnebago and taking the pulse of South Africa from Cape Town to Graaff Reinet and from Qunu to Soweto. David McKenzie will travel more than 3 000km and viewers will be able to track his journey with the help of an interactive map on CNN.com as well. Meanwhile Aaron Mokoena, Bafana Bafana captain will be filing video diaries for CNN and also contribute as a World Cup analyst.

INTERVIEW. Robyn Curnow, anchor of the new CNN Marketplace Africa: ''It's a great opportunity to tell African business stories.''

You're reading it here first.

I've told you about the brand-new CNN Marketplace Africa on CNN International (DStv 401) RIGHT HERE, Wednesdays at 20:45, anchored by South Africa's Robyn Curnow.

I spoke with her recently about the brand-new addition to the CNN International programming line-up to find out what CNN Marketplace Africa is all about and how the show will be different. I asked her about the challenges about the new weekly show she will be anchoring, what stories CNN Marketplace Africa will be covering, and what she's looking forward to the most to achieve.

Click on READ MORE below for my interview with Robyn Curnow.

Programming note: CNN International's new Marketplace Africa business show debuts tonight.

The brand-new weekly business show, Marketplace Africa on CNN International (DStv 401) debuts tonight at 21:45 on the global news channel, anchored by South Africa's own Robyn Curnow. Marketplace Africa will repeat on Saturdays and Sundays.

The new weekly business show, that adds to CNN International's African programming perspective that already include African Voices and Inside Africa, will look at African business both on and off the continent.

''We want to go beyond the pure numbers, and showcase for our international audience the new technologies, business solutions and trends redefining African business,'' says Kim Norgaard, CNN International's Johannesburg bureau chief. ''African business is becoming increasingly influential in international trade and investment, and we hope this show will be the home for big names driving African commerce forward.''

Marketplace Africa is done from CNN International's Johannesburg bureau and will also include on-location broadcasts in future. In tonight's first broadcast the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn talks about the investment climate in Africa, the restructuring of Zimbabwe's economy, and how the IMF is overcoming its image crisis on the continent. CNN International's South Africa correspondent Nkepile Mabuse also visits a mine to see the technology used to curb diamond theft.

BREAKING. SA TV journo Robyn Curnow gets her own show on CNN International.

You're reading it here first.

I cane exclusively reveal that the South African TV journalist Robyn Curnow is getting her own show on CNN International (DStv 401) in March.

Robyn Curnow will be the face of, and present the brand-new CNN Marketplace Africa that will start on 15 March at 20:45 on CNN International (DStv 401). CNN Marketplace Africa will look at the latest African market information and developments impacting the world of business on the continent, as well as interviews with business leaders.

Robyn Curnow is very well-known to South African TV viewers, having worked previously at SABC News, before moving to e.tv's eNews division and then CNN International covering Africa and Europe where she regularly files stories for the international TV news channel.