CNBC Africa turns 13: ABN Group says Covid-19 is a 'major test' for the TV business channel, hints at switch to a new operating model post-coronavirus.

by Thinus Ferreira

CNBC Africa (DStv 410 / StarSat 309), the Africa-localised TV business news channel franchise of the American CNBC brand is turning 13 years old today amidst the devastating global Covid-19 pandemic and says that the impact of the coronavirus has been a "major test" for the channel, hinting at a switch to a new operating model in the future post-Covid-19.

As with all South African and African media, the ABN Group that launched CNBC Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service on 1 June 2007, has felt the tremendous devastating impact of Covid-19 over the past two months.

As elsewhere, CNBC Africa saw programming advertisers and sponsors disappear while several of CNBC Africa's planned, broadcast business sessions which are sponsored content, had to be cancelled.

CNBC Africa currently has bureaus in Johannesburg (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria) and Kigali (Rwanda) and produced roughly 8 hours of Africa-produced business and economic-related TV content per day.

Commenting about CNBC Africa's 13th anniversary, Roberta Naicker, ANB Group managing director, says that "The journey has been a game-changer in the business news genre as the channel has showcased business and economic news on the continent".

"We could not have achieved this without the commitment of the executive team and staff at CNBC Africa who have been the cornerstone of our achievement."

Sid Wahi, CNBC Africa director, says that the industry has evolved over the last decade as both content creation and distribution have radically transformed.

"Although we were the first server-based TV station in sub-Sahara Africa, that was not enough as we had to realign our processes, modernise our equipment, train our staff and consolidate the operation to meet the challenges that we were faced with."

Sid Wahi says that CNBC Africa TV channel distribution had to be addressed as well since it was a major gap in sub-Sahara Africa. After just being available on MultiChoice's DStv in 2007, CNBC Africa gained carriage to further carriage agreement contracts on other platforms as well, for instance China's StarTimes pay-TV platform.

"Covid-19 has been a major test of the channel's resolve." says CNBC Africa. "On one hand news media is considered an essential service, but on the other, there is little support in the form of advertising and sponsorships during this pandemic."

"Like all media companies, we have reached out to a lot of our long-time clients to stand by us during this extremely challenging time. The post-Covid-19 era will herald a new operating model as the experience has catalysed transformation of the business, making it more productive and efficient."

In an interview on CNBC Africa on Monday, Zafar Siddiqi, ABN Group co-founder and chairperson, about the impact of Covid-19 on the TV business said that the channel "has a steady number of viewership who are interested in business news so we generally will not lose them. So, in summary I'd say - uncertainty, again - but we should be out of the storm in roughly 12 to 18 months".

CNBC Africa and MSNBC both relaunch with refreshed websites at cnbcafrica.com and msnbc.com.

The African biz news channel CNBC Africa (DStv 410) has launched a refreshed website at cnbcafrica.com, while the American TV news channel MSNBC (TopTV 410) has also relaunched with a refreshed website.

MSNBC's new website includes original reporting and encourages participation; the user experience is also customizable. CNBC Africa says its new website has "over 22 000 clips and interviews from around the African continent".

"msnbc.com features MSNBC show video and content, original reporting and analysis, and interactive discussions throughout. Innovative, immersive, and impactful, msnbc.com is designed to be an engaging user experience for MSNBC's passionate community," says the news channel in a statement.

"MSNBC has a proud and enthusiastic fan base and the new msnbc.com was designed to fully embrace them," says Phil Griffin, MSNBC president.

"Adding a strong, interactive web presence to our portfolio positions us at the forefront of multi-platform news providers and I'm happy to finally bring the MSNBC experience to all screens."

"msnbc.com's elegant layout utilizes the very latest in rich web application technology. Users will immediately notice the site's emphasis on striking photos and videos, allowing large visuals to quickly share the most pressing news. The sleek, clean format showcases only ten stories on the homepage and four interactive tabs up top: EXPLORE, WATCH, JOIN IN, and SPEAK OUT."

CNBC Africa says its new website at cnbcafrica.com "not only acts as a companion to the television channel, but will keep its digital audience abreast of the latest news and events driving markets in Africa and overseas". The website is an amalgamation of CNBC Africa's website and the group's digital publishing arm.

"The website will offer CNBC Africa television viewers breaking business and economic news and analysis from top performing African markets and equities to currencies, commodities, oil, infrastructure, technology, financials as well as in-depth interviews with CEO's and executives leading major African organisations."

"The journey to get to this point has been a long and challenging one," says Sid Wahi, CNBCAfrica.com's chief executive, in a statement. "The nature of the business compels us to keep innovating and building on what we currently offer."

"Our biggest advantage is the live streaming of our programs. The new look website has taken our brand to a new level. This is what you call multimedia at its best," says Isaac Esipisu, CNBCAfrica.com's online chief editor.