MultiChoice to add the new film channel Movie Room from 27 August to DStv packaged by the Ngwato Nkosi Group.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice will add a new locally-packaged movie channel to DStv, with the TV channel called Movie Room which will be going live for pay-TV subscribers on 27 August on DStv channel 113.

MultiChoice has not yet announced which DStv packages will get access to Movie Room, but the film channel comes from Thabile Ngwato and Thokozani Nkosi's Ngwato Nkosi Group which is already supplying the South African TV news channel Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) to the Randburg-based satellite pay-TV operator.

After MultiChoice ended its channels carriage agreement with eMedia Investment's e.tv earlier this year and which led to DStv subscribers losing movie channels like eMovies and eMovies Extra, MultiChoice promised that it would substitute the removal with the addition of a new film channel later this year. 

"This channel will offer entertaining local and international movies 24/7, from big blockbuster hits to unforgettable cinema classics," says Thokozani Nkosi. 

"We'll be carefully curating the line-up to cater for every mood – whether it's edge-of-your-seat action you’re after, or the comfort of an old favourite. Of course, we’ll also apply the unique perspective that we’ve become known for,."

"This is an exciting next step in our journey. Newzroom Afrika has been successful beyond all expectations, and we will use the experience of setting up the channel from scratch to make smart decisions in our approach with Movie Room."

Georginah Machiridza, MultiChoice's head of content strategy and third party channels, says Movie Room will give DStv subscribers more options in their selection of entertainment.

"We're excited to bring subscribers the widest possible choice of fine movies to satisfy all tastes and seasons."

Legendary South African casting director Moonyeenn Lee dies from Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Legendary South African casting director and agent Agent Moonyeenn Lee has died from complications to Covid-19. She was 76.

Moonyeenn Lee who was born in 1944 in Johannesburg, died in Saturday, due to complications caused by the coronavirus.

On Sunday Moonyeenn Lee Associates announced on its Facebook page that "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of the legendary South African casting director and agent, Moonyeenn Lee".

Her 47 years in the film industry earned her a formidable reputation: You didn't go through if you didn't go through Moonyeenn.

In 2003 Moonyeenn was nominated to the national executive committee of the Independent Producer’s Organisation (IPO)  and to the Film Board of Create South Africa. 

In the same year, she formed Khulisa Productions to make South African films that created its first film, Promised Land.

"Moonyeenn’s passion for South African stories and local talent was well known. Over the years, she would travel around the world introducing producers and directors to South African actors. She would always do everything in her power to convince them to rather cast local actors over foreign actors. Her dedication eventually paid off as many international productions trusted her to cast locally," said Moonyeenn Lee Associates.

Moonyeenn Lee was renowned as one of South Africa’s leading agents and probably the most famous one in the country, and represented some of South Africa’s best-known actors through her company, Moonyeenn Lee & Associates (MLA). 

"She cared deeply for actors and was a fearless defender of their rights," said MLA.

"Work was central in her life. Her actors were her family. The directors and producers she worked with were all her friends. She was brutally honest, a bit too much for some, but she believed in saying things as they are."

"Her quick wit, her wicked sense of humour and deep understanding of her craft made her interesting company. Her family and friends will remember her for her generosity and kindness to those in need, for her fighting spirit as well as for her unwavering commitment to the local industry."

Moonyeen Lee received the Lionel Ngakane Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Film & Television Awards in 2017, and she became the first South African member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars and the Television Academy, which votes for the Emmys.

Moonyeen Lee managed the casting of films such as The Bang Bang Club, Disgrace, the Oscar-winning Tsotsi, Fanie Fourie’s Lobola, the Oscar-nominated Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond; the Oscar-shortlisted Black Panther and Life, Above All; the Golden Globe nominees Machine Gun Preacher and Mandela and De Klerk.

She also did the casting for Emmy-winning series like Homeland, as well as nominees like The Prisoner and No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, among others. Moonyeenn was nominated for two Emmy Awards for The Looming Tower and Roots.

Moonyeenn Lee helped shape the lives of many actors, directors and writers through her fierce honesty and passion. "The South African film industry has lost an icon and a formidable champion of the arts. She will be sorely missed by us all," said MLA. 

She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Lee, her son, David Lee and her pets, Hitchcock, Eva and Spice.

The Commercial Producers Association of South Africa said it is "very sad to learn of the passing of legendary agent and casting director, Moonyeenn Lee. A great loss to the South African film industry! Our condolences go to Cindy, David and family and to all at MLA". 

Roberta Durrant from Penguin Films said "I got to know Moonyeen four decades ago when she first represented me as an actress and then worked closely with her ever since, as she represented the amazing talent in our industry."

"She has launched so many careers and has been a guiding light for our industry, not only locally, but internationally as well. Moonyeen will be deeply missed by all."

The Newzroom Afrika co-founder Thokozani Nkosi said "Moonyeenn spotted my potential as an actor before I fully did and believed in me until I did it too. She first cast me in Yizo-Yizo and the rest is history. Rest in peace Moonyeenn you were a true casting genius. You made so many dreams come true. Your legacy lives on."


ALSO READ: South African agent and casting director, Moonyeenn Lee, joins as Oscar member as one of 683 new members added to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
ALSO READ: Super-agent Moonyeenn Lee is utterly brilliant as the biggest bitch on South African television in the second season of Class Act.

Coronavirus: Newzroom Afrika staffers test positive for Covid-19, prompts more changes at the TV news channel's Linden newsroom including cordoning off sections, one-way corridors and an end to desk swapping.

by Thinus Ferreira

Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) staffers have been diagnosed positive for the Covid-19 virus and have been quarantined at home while the TV news channel is once again reconfiguring its Johannesburg newsroom, including cordoning off sections through which staffers will no longer be able to walk and making corridors one-way walk-throughs.

The Newzroom Afrika Covid-19 cases in Cape Town underscores how vulnerable South Africa's media workers and reporters are as they continue to try and cover the impact of the unfolding humanitarian, health, economic and societal tragedy as the novel coronavirus spreads in the country and across Africa.

The Newzroom Afrika staffers who've tested positive and who are now in self-isolation come days after the tragic and shocking death on Wednesday morning of Lungile Tom (45) - the etv News, eNuus and eNCA (DStv 403) cameraman who worked at eMedia Investments' Cape Town office - where the building was shuttered for a deep-clean and more than 70 staffers sent home for self-isolation and 14-days quarantine.

Lungile Tom is the first-known South African journalist to die from Covid-19, after the SABC News reporter Ulrich Hendriks based in Kimberley who tested positive for Covid-19 and saw the SABC shutter its office in the Northern Cape province, recovered in April.

The Newzroom Afrika reporter Athi Mtongana revealed that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and shared a Bible-verse on her Twitter account on social media, referencing Isaiah 53: "My results have come back positive. I will recover, no Corona virus formed against us shall prosper. Isaiah 53 'by Christ's wounds we are healed".

Newzroom Afrika that just celebrated its first anniversary since the TV news channel that was commissioned by MultiChoice in 2019 from co-founders Thabile Ngwato and Thokozani Nkosi went on-air on 2 May 2019, didn't respond to an emailed media enquiry on Sunday morning but a response will be added when or if received.

About the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic in South Africa Thabile Ngwato said on the TV news channel's first birthday that "on the business side we have been really prepared".

"As things started to escalate we really worked on a business-continuity plan, that would make sure that we continue to operate and continue to provide our viewers with the content that they need. Especially now."

"We work from a solid plan on the business side. From the content side we make sure that we are live, that we are direct all the time."

Katy Katopodis, Newzroom Africa news director in an internal communique to staffers that TVwithThinus has seen, confirmed that Cape Town colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19, that channel management is checking on them, and that Newzroom Afrika is once again making newsroom changes to try and prevent further Covid-19 cases.

Newzroom Afrika is once again reconfiguring its Johannesburg newsroom set-up that will include cordoning off certain sections ending walk-thoughs, ensuring alternative open desk space between seats, designated desks and an end to desk and seat swapping, and corridors becoming one-way walk-throughs.

Here is the email from Katy Katopodis to Newzroom Afrika staffers:

"Hi all,

As you may all know, some CT colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19.

I have spoken to them and they are resting as much as possible and taking good care of themselves. I am confident that they will be fine and they will get through this difficult time.

We are all here for them. We support them and should they need anything, together with Rebecca in HR we will assist. We will also keep checking on them.  Our thoughts and prayers are with our CT team and we wish them a speedy recovery.

At the same time we are also working on yet another reconfiguration of the newsroom. We will change the desks so that everyone is sitting on every alternate desk.

We will also cordon off certain sections in the newsroom that we cannot walk through. We will have designated desks for people so that we don’t keep swapping. We are also changing the flow of the building - making the corridors one way.

Those who can work from home / remotely have been identified. Wearing masks in the office is non-negotiable and we must please keep them on at all times. We must also ensure that we sanitize and wash hands constantly.

We are also working closely with Morishe and Jayosh to look for even more innovative ways to protect the mics and sanitize the equipment. I hope to have more clarity by tomorrow.

Please don’t hesitate to speak to me, Malebo, Bongiwe or Zain or any of your line managers if you have any questions or concerns.

Our health and safety is our TOP PRIORITY and we must all pull together to ensure that we are safe.

Our health is critical at this time.
Be safe everyone.

Thanks"

Newzroom Afrika celebrates its first anniversary on-air and 'miracle launch', explains the South African TV news channel's 'person-first' reporting approach.

by Thinus Ferreira

Newzroom Africa (DStv 405) is celebrating the South African TV news channel's first anniversary on-air and its "miracle launch" after it made its debut just before the country's last general elections in 2019 and now finds itself reporting amidst the country's Covid-19 national lockdown period.

Newzroom Afrika is also explaining its "person first" approach to news coverage that it says has been working well for the Linden-studio headquartered TV news channel over the past 12 months.

The TV news channel that was commissioned by MultiChoice from co-founders Thabile Ngwato and Thokozani Nkosi went on-air on 2 May 2019 just before the 2019 national and provincial elections from its newly-created studio in Johannesburg.

On Saturday the TV news channel marked its first anniversary on-air with a white-icing cake surrounded by some of the on-air presenters and staffers in the background. it previously marked its first 100 days on-air with a cake as well.

Newzroom Afrika took the DStv channel number place of the shuttered Afro Worldview, previously ANN7, and now competes against eMedia Investments' eNCA (DStv 403), and the South African public broadcaster's SABC News (DStv 404) channel.

In an interview on Newzroom Afrika Thabile Ngwato, co-founder and co-CEO, said "the first year was definitely remarkable for us". "We're so grateful for our team and our channel carriage partner MultiChoice. It's been so great for us to have a partner that is as supportive as MultiChoice and the rest of our stakeholders as well."

Thokozani Nkosi, co-founder and co-CEO, revealed that Newzroom Afrika's opening broadcast was supposed to have bee a pre-recorded newscast and event "but the fact that we launched the station live stood out for us".

"A lot of things that you see on-air are us 'breaking rules' but the beautiful thing is we knew the rules first before we broke them. We knew what rules to break and how to break it. So you break it in a way that works."

About the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic in South Africa Thabile Ngwato said that "on the business side we have been really prepared. As things started to escalate we really worked on a business-continuity plan, that would make sure that we continue to operate and continue to provide our viewers with the content that they need. Especially now."

"We work from a solid plan on the business side. From the content side we make sure that we are live, that we are direct all the time."

In a 10-minute look-back short documentary insert broadcast on Newzroom Afrika about its first year on-air, Malebo Phage, Newzroom Afrika editor-in-chief, describes it as a "miracle launch": "We had 3 months to launch in an environment where our competitors had many, many months to prepare to launch. In our case, it was just two months."


Newzroom Afrika reporting approach
Explaining Newzroom Afrika's news reporting and presentation style, Thokozani Nkosi, says "we put the person first before the actual 'story'. We use a normal narrative of telling people's stories and the facts come as a by-product of that. That has worked quite well for us."

Katy Katopidis, Newzroom Afrika news director, says "live story-telling, rolling live coverage and the serialisation of news is a very important strategy for us at Newzroom Afrika because it gives our audience an opportunity to go on the journey with the reporter."

"It almost becomes a 'reporter with them' because the story is unfolding hour by hour. through their eyes and I think that has really given us a bit of an edge because we're able to tell it from a slightly different angle and keep constantly on a particular story."

"Newzroom Afrika evolving is not just in a vacuum," says Malebo Phage. "It is evolving in circumstances where there are challenges within the digital space, how things are told in the digital space compared to how stories are told in traditional media."

"So you always have to compete and tell a story online, and tell the same story differently on our channel - so that again brings its own challenges."

"My hope for Newzroom Afrika is that the channel will continue to have enormous impact, it will continue to tell stories that are meaningful, continue to tell stories that are relevant in our society - both in South Africa and on our continent," says Katy Katopodis.

"I'm just hoping that we will grow from strength to strength with the amazing team of reporters and anchors and everybody who our audience doesn't see but are working so hard and tirelessly behind-the-scenes."

You can watch the Newzroom Afrika lookback insert here:

Newzroom Afrika launches on MultiChoice's DStv with the new TV channel saying it hopes 'to be seen as a strong alternative' in the local TV news sphere.

The new Newzroom Africa channel made its debut on Thursday evening on MultiChoice’s DStv satellite pay-TV service, telling viewers that the new South African TV news channel hopes “to be seen as a strong alternative” in the local TV news and crowded media sphere.

Newzroom Afrika, set up by Thabile Ngwato's Rapid Innovation and Thokozani Nkosi's Eclipse TV, will compete against rivals like eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) in a highly-contested TV space for eyeballs and advertising rands and made new journalism appointment besides luring away on-air talent from other news broadcasters and radio stations.

“Our promise to you is to be an innovate and interactive multimedia news service, to be seen as as a strong alternative for professional, incredible South African current affairs coverage. We promise to unpack the unspoken,” said Thabile Ngwato in an on-screen launch message as she stood next to co-founder Thokozani Nkosi before the studio’s big video wall.

Nkosi said that the channel hopes to bring “cutting-edge content to your screen”.

 Newzroom Afrika takes over the vacant spot of channel number 405 where the controversial Gupta family’s ANN7 used to reside before it Mzwanele Manyi took it over, rebranded it as Afro Worldview and that saw it get shut down by MultiChoice in August 2018.

Newzroom Afrika unveiled its new set inside its studio in Linden, Johannesburg on Thursday evening with an L-shaped, red desk and a video wall on the right-hand side.

 The NewzAtPrime co-anchor Cathy Mohlahlana who anchored during prime time on eNCA before she was moved back to an afternoon slot and then left, had an on-screen TV reunion with another former eNCA star, Karyn Maughan. 

Cathy Mohlahlana and Karyn Maughan are two of several other former eNCA staffers who have made the jump to Newzroom Afrika.

The launch broadcast – unlike the one of ANN7 which was overshadowed by bloopers and mistakes that instantly went viral – went off without obvious glitches or technical mistakes, with Cathy Mohlahlana and her co-anchor and sports editor Marc Lewis, formerly involved with the SABC, who both did great. 

The first news bulletin followed a surprisingly traditional TV news approach, pace and presentation style.

Newzroom Afrika didn’t release a schedule to the media but its next big programming launch will be its weekday morning show, Breaking Dawn, that will kick off on Friday morning with presenters Sizwe Dhlomo, Carmen Reddy and Gugu Mhlungu and that will revolve around “topical issues with informal banter and analysis”.

 Newzroom Afrika during its first bulletin, announced that it will be covering South Africa’s general elections set for 8 March. 

It applied for and managed to secure its own branded media berth at the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) operations centre in Pretoria-West from where it will be able to broadcast from similar to the other TV news channels.

TV news channels are notoriously expensive to run and take a long time to reach break-even point. Newzroom Afrika didn’t yet divulge details regarding possible other funders besides MultiChoice, but the launch broadcast did contain TV commercials from the outset that will bring in some additional money as a revenue source. 

Studio, equipment, technology investments and the staff compliment who have been hired, including how many former Afro Worldview staffers were taken over, have not been shared.

The South African government in a statement welcomed the launch of Newzroom Afrika, with Phumla Williams, government spokesperson, saying "Government is encouraged by the growing number of 24-hour news channels in the country, which further strengthens media diversity. The introduction of Newzroom Afrika will further shape public discourse on pertinent matters affecting our nation".

"The new channel will contribute immensely to South Africa’s dynamic media industry and also contribute towards creating an informed citizenry. Government wishes Newzroom Afrika all of the best in its endeavour."

ALSO READ: No press briefing or media launch event for the new Newzroom Afrika on MultiChoice's DStv; new TV news channel's execs are 'too busy' to do interviews.

ALSO READ: TOLDJA! New TV news channel, Newzroom Afrika, to oddly launch on 2 May on MultiChoice's DStv with some familiar TV and radio names.

ALSO READ: With whispers of a 2 May launch date and already missing its 'early-2019' launch target, the new TV news channel Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice are failing to keep their promise of keeping the media informed. 

No press briefing or media launch event for the new Newzroom Afrika on MultiChoice's DStv; new TV news channel's execs are 'too busy' to do interviews.

There will be no press briefing or media launch event for the new TV news channel Newzroom Africa (DStv 405) before it launches on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service on 2 May at 17:30.

It's highly unusual and doesn't following established industry best practice in terms of basic media engagement and public relations.

The failure of Newzroom Afrika to properly - or at all - engage with trade publications covering the local TV and film industry in South Africa and other press alike, is making the nascent TV news channel look rushed, unprofessional and amateurishly run.

Despite multiple requests for interviews with Newzroom Afrika executives, TVwithThinus has been told that Newzroom Afrika executives are "too busy" to talk to the media about the new South African TV news venture.

Finer details as well as TV broadcasting basics around the channel are not available anywhere and haven't been communicated or released by Newzroom Afrika or MultiChoice.

No basic and complete press pack exists for Newzroom Afrika, which didn't release any channel schedule, channel line-up or programming synopses. 

The channel, despite being asked several times, failed to share a set of complete publicity images and info pack about who the anchors, presenters and reporters are and how they look, for general use in the media.

Newzroom Afrika has been set up by Thabile Ngwato's Rapid Innovation and Thokozani Nkosi's Eclipse TV, with Newzroom Afrika that will compete against rivals like eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) in a highly-contested TV space for eyeballs and advertising rands.

When MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika executives in August 2018 jointly announced Newzroom Afrika as the successful news channel bidder to replace the dumped ANN7/Afro Worldview on DStv, it promised both "an early-2019" launch date, as well as that it would "be sharing further details about the channel in the coming weeks".

The 2 May launch date - with no guidance or advisory beforehand despite media enquiries about it in earlier weeks - now no longer falls in "early-2019" but in the second quarter of the year. Newzroom Afrika gave no explanation for the 2 May launch date decision that comes right after a midweek public holiday.

MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika also didn't keep to the promise of sharing details.

While local TV channels usually have a press briefing where journalists can ask questions, or a media launch event - or both - there will be no press conference or media launch event for the press organised by Newzroom Afrika.

These are usually organised jointly between a new channel, in this case, Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice as the platform carrying it, with joint banners and showing both logos and MultiChoice contributing towards the budget of an event.

Newzroom Afrika failed to capitalise on the interest that there has been from other media in the lead-up to its launch who wanted to provide coverage about it.

Newzroom Afrika executives were also said to be "too busy" to do interviews beforehand with media that asked, instead oddly opting for two Johannesburg radio interviews and one "exclusive" Johannesburg newspaper interview who were all approached for it.

Nothing is known about the Newzroom Afrika's studio or its setup in Linden, Johannesburg, with no images available.

Nothing was shared by Newzroom Afrika about its hired reporter pool, where they're stationed and what the channel will try to cover, its investments in equipment, technology and broadcasting playout, or even its content blocks, who it will do news for, its editorial policy and news vision, or even where its name and stylized adaptation comes from.

Newzroom Afrika was asked if it would be doing a press briefing.  Newzroom Afrika said "there is no press briefing planned".

It means that the only time Newzroom Afrika spoke or appeared before the media at a press conference was the one in August 2018 when it was announced as the successful bidder 8 months ago.

Newzroom Afrika was asked if there would be a media launch event. Newzroom Afrika said "there is no launch event planned before the channel goes live". 

TV channels in South Africa usually invite media to a media launch event usually set a week before, on the day or a few days before launch to issue press material either as a physical press pack, on USB or through email, and then address journalists and editors and use such an event to make contact with the media, TV critics, publications and the journalists that will be covering it.

While the media has no direct access to Newzroom Afrika, the channel through the Cape Town PR company Corporate Image was asked how viewers or potential viewers as its audience should or can contact NewzroomAfrika if they want to.

"Our newsroom will be contactable through our social media platforms and by email from launch," the channel said.

ALSO READ: Newzroom Afrika launches on MultiChoice's DStv with the new TV channel saying it hopes 'to be seen as a strong alternative' in the local TV news sphere.

ALSO READ: TOLDJA! New TV news channel, Newzroom Afrika, to oddly launch on 2 May on MultiChoice's DStv with some familiar TV and radio names.

ALSO READ: With whispers of a 2 May launch date and already missing its 'early-2019' launch target, the new TV news channel Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice are failing to keep their promise of keeping the media informed.

With whispers of a 2 May launch date and already missing its 'early-2019' launch target, the new TV news channel Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice are failing to keep their promise of keeping the media informed.

While there's unconfirmed insider buzz that the new Newzroom Afrika TV news channel will now launch on 2 May on DStv - already missing its "in early-2019" launch date it announced in September 2018 with no communication since - rumblings and negative perceptions inside South Africa's media sector are growing about how both Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice have failed, and are failing, to keep their promise of keeping the media informed about this channel's developments and roll-out.

With whispers of a 2 May launch date and missing its "early-2019" launch target, the new TV news channel Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice are failing to keep their promise of keeping the media informed about its progress.

According to insiders, Newzroom Afrika - that has already had to postpone initial plans to launch in "early-2019" as was originally announced to the press in September 2018, and that has failed to provide any updates or information to the media - is apparently looking at a launch date of 2 May 2019, unless that has also been postponed.

Even a 2 May launch date of the new TV news channel from Thabile Ngwato's Rapid Innovation and Thokozani Nkosi's Eclipse TV will mean a broken promise from Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice that have done no market and media perception management since late-2018 for the channel.

A second-quarter launch date for Newzroom Afrika on DStv channel number 405 no longer qualifies as "early-2019".

Newzroom Afrika is set to replace the Gupta's canned ANN7 that morphed into Mzwanele Manyi's Afro Worldview before MultiChoice finally dumped it in August 2018.

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice in the past week about the rumoured 2 May launch date for Newzroom Afrika with a MultiChoice spokesperson that said the satellite pay-TV service isn't in a position to confirm any dates.

According to MultiChoice insiders, Newzroom Afrika is however launching on 2 May.

According to insiders, DStv Media Sales, MultiChoice's advertising selling arm, has also entered into a commercial partnership with Newzroom Afrika from 24 April, although this has also not been announced and made public or shared with the media.

"We'll be sharing further details about the channel in the coming weeks," said Thabile Ngwato in the MultiChoice press release that was issued on 28 August 2018.

That was 8 months ago.

Since then Newzroom Afrika hasn't shared any further details and failed to keep the media that is and would be covering it, in the loop.

In March 2019 Newzroom Afrika started a recruitment process looking for reporters, producers, editors and people to fill various other positions.

There's been no guidance or media advisories from MultiChoice or Newzroom Afrika to the press in order for the media to prepare in advance for Newzroom Afrika's launch, or to plan editorial coverage and to slot in possible coverage into their news diaries.

Multiple media insiders, journalists and editors responsible for covering Newzroom Afrika - and who have been sharing their personal thoughts in off-the-record conversations the past few weeks - are saying that Newzroom Afrika and MultiChoice have already started damaging the Newzroom Afrika brand perception and credibility.

They say that by staying silent by choice, Newzroom Afrika, by not being more transparent and forthcoming about what it's doing and busy with in the lead-up to its on-air launch, plays more into "secrecy" than "news provider" which is what it presumably wants its image to be.

The media didn't get further guidance since August 2018 on Newzroom Afrika's moving launch date goalposts and have been kept in the dark about what exactly has been happening and what progress has been made the past 8 months.

With no word about whether there would be another official press briefing, or an official media launch event for the press, some have pointed to the shambolic and disorganised launch of ANN7 that never knew, nor engaged with the media it should have, and launched with an extremely damaging reputation and media perception that it never recovered from.

The media was negative about ANN7 - something that is caused itself through inaction - and never recovered from its damaged reputation.

ANN7 as the Newzroom Afrika predecessor never bothered to reach out to the media covering it with publicity beforehand to establish proper media relations.

It's launch event was a huge and embarrassing mess both in terms of the function as well as on-air where its blooper-fest led to a cringe-worthy meltdown on ANN7's launch night that went viral, with the behind-the-scenes drama that the former editor Rajesh Sundaram describes in embarrassing detail in his book, Indentured.

"One of the worst things they can possibly do is that the first next communication we get since the announcement that Newzroom Afrika won the bid is just suddenly some press release that Newzroom Afrika is going to start tomorrow or today," said a veteran media worker insider last week.

"That is probably exactly what is going to happen," said another.

"ANN7 just launched and had no clue about proper media engagement and got no help from MultiChoice. Their danger now is that Newzroom Afrika could follow the same road," said the first insider.

"You wonder what MultiChoice learnt, if anything, from the launch of ANN7. Now it's all new people everywhere and it looks like it's just going to be the same all over again," said a third person working in media.

"The media will only suddenly get information about the programming and on-air talent on the day they launch and then be asked 'do you want to do interviews?' which is far too late. And even that if we're lucky."

Daily Maverick reveals it was a bidder for MultiChoice's new local TV news channel on DStv, says that despite 'the all-round silence, no comments' around non-transparent bidding process and bidders list, the questions are not going to go away.

The Daily Maverick online commentary and news analysis publication on Monday morning revealed that it was one of the bidders who applied to run a new local TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform  to replace the corrupt and cancelled "Gupta-news" ANN7/Afro Worldview that was shut down on 20 August.

MultiChoice's highly-fraught and controversial South African TV news channel war is once again hotting up with public calls for Naspers' pay-TV arm to be open and transparent and to stop the secrecy around its TV news channels dealings.

Political parties ranging from the EFF to the Democratic Alliance (DA), as well as broadcasting public pressure groups are calling on MultiChoice to release the Newzroom Africa contract, as well as the information around the various bidders who applied, and their eventual ranking.

It comes after MultiChoice last week announced that it has chosen Newzroom Afrika as the new 24-hour local TV news channel to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview channel on DStv.

Newzroom Afrika will launch in early 2019 on DStv and will take the channel number of 405 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the one where ANN7 that turned into Afro Worldview, launched and was dumped a week ago.

Newzroom Afrika, following after eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) will be made available to all DStv subscribers, meaning that it will have a wider reach that eMedia Investment's eNCA.

The two directors heading up Newzroom Afrika are Thokozani Nkosi of the production company Eclipse TV, and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation.

Daily Maverick, run by Branko Brkic as editor-in-chief, on Monday in an opinion piece by Ufrieda Ho, said that the Naspers-owned MultiChoice's dominance in the pay-TV sector "makes its operational decision-making processes matters of public interest".

"It has the de facto monopoly on subscription-based TV, with a 52% share and a penetration of 11.9 million households in 2017. Its influence in deciding who gets to launch a news channel, in the 2019 election year, makes its motives fair game for questions."

Daily Maverick quotes William Bird of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), who says that MultiChoice's bidding process around the new local TV news channel has lacked transparency and openness from the beginning.

"The way MultiChoice is behaving - only telling the little they want to disclose to seem like they are making the effort to be transparent - undermines not just their own, but all, media credibility. It's why we've called for the shortlist of bidders to be made public and for clarity on ownership and who's funding Newzroom Afrika".

Jackie Rakitla, MultiChoice general manager of corporate affairs, in a quote to Daily Maverick said "We are not sharing the shortlist, evaluation and scoring of bidders as we are respecting the privacy of unsuccessful bidders who are employed within other media companies".

Daily Maverick said that "the all-round silence, no comments and off-the-record-only comment has caused rumours to fly - all of them untested - but unanswered, they are not going away".

The Democratic Alliance asks MultiChoice to release the full contract with Newzroom Afrika to start a new local TV news channel on DStv, as well as the complete list of bidders.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party has asked MultiChoice to release the full contract and make public the agreement Naspers' pay-TV arm has with Newzroom Afrika to start a new local TV news channel on DStv to replace the controversial "Gupta-news" ANN7 that was rebranded as Afro Worldview and eventually shut down a week ago.

The political party also wants MultiChoice to make public to South Africa the entire list of bidders who submitted plans to start a news channel to replace ANN7/Afro Worldview.

The DA says that it has asked MultiChoice, under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to release the "full terms of agreement" between MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika.

In the week MultiChoice announced that it has chosen Newzroom Afrika as the new 24-hour local TV news channel to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview channel on DStv.

Newzroom Afrika will launch in early 2019 on DStv and will take the channel number of 405 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the one where ANN7 that turned into Afro Worldview, launched and was dumped a week ago.

Newzroom Afrika, following after eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) will be made available to all DStv subscribers, meaning that it will have a wider reach that eMedia Investment's eNCA.

The two directors heading up Newzroom Afrika are Thokozani Nkosi of the production company Eclipse TV, and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation

"Past experieces with MultiChoice, especially with regards to their suspicious relationship and payments to ANN7, require the need for transparency and openness," says Phumzile Van Damme, the Democratic Alliance member of parliament (MP) and the political party's shadow minister of communications in a statement released on Sunday.

"It is for this reason the DA has requested that MultiChoice make public their agreement with Newzroom Afrika, the list of bidders for the DStv channel 405 contract, and the ranking of the shortlisted bidders and relevant documentation for the DStv 405 contract".

"The DA is of the view that this information is in the best interest of the public as they need assurance that the hard-earned money they pay for their DStv subscription fees are utilised in an ethical and transparent manner."

"We trust that, in good faith, MultiChoice will open its books to the public in order to give assurance that there was nothing untoward in the awarding of the contract to Newzroom Afrika, and this will not be another ANN7."

BREAKING. MultiChoice chooses Newzroom Afrika to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview as a new local TV news channel on DStv.

MultiChoice has chosen Newzroom Afrika as the new 24-hour local TV news channel to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview channel on DStv.

Newzroom Afrika will launch in early 2019 on DStv and no channel logo is available yet.

When Newzroom Afrika launched early next year, it will take the channel number of 405 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the one where ANN7 that turned into Afro Worldview, launched and was dumped from earlier this month.

Newzroom Afrika, following after eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) will be made available to all DStv subscribers, meaning that it will have a wider reach that eMedia Investment's eNCA.

MultiChoice received 111 expressions of interest for a new TV news channel on DStv.

The two directors heading up Newzroom Afrika are Thokozani Nkosi of the production company Eclipse TV, and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation, the SABC News anchor who left the SABC last week.

Eclipse TV produced shows for the South African public broadcaster like It's Gospel Time and I want to sing Gospel for SABC2 and The Chatroom and Big Up for SABC1.

"Today marks the birth of an exciting new and independent media voice in South Africa," said Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice South Africa CEO.

"We set out to find a quality, new, black-owned, independent news channel to expand the diversity of South African news and enrich our democracy - we're excited by the outcome.

"The Eclipse TV and Rapid Innovation teams have a track record of entrepreneurial success. They will be supported by an editorial team that will deliver independent views of events unfolding in South Africa and around the world, while the owners concentrate on running the business successfully."

"Their bid stood out for its potential to bring a fresh, creative and diversified approach to news reporting, which included an integrated digital strategy, combined with sound audience analysis and appealing on-screen execution".

MultiChoice in a statement says "this new channel will greatly enhance and enrich the news offering on DStv, while at the same time creating a new black-owned entrant in South African news media. It will promote the diversity of voices in media and give all our customers the chance to find a news channel on DStv that resonates with them."

"We were looking for a news channel that is distinctly different from what is currently available‚ and we certainly found it in Newzroom Afrika. We want to drive sustainable transformation in the television industry and to contribute to the diversity of views in our country and our continent."

Thabile Ngwato in a statement on Tuesday said Newzroom Afrika "is committed to provide independent and dependable reporting, and will deliver that through our strong editorial team".

Thokozani Nkosi said "this is a great opportunity for us to bring a fresh perspective to the South African news agenda by building a news channel from scratch. We're excited and raring to go."

MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika will start negotiations about the channel carriage agreement soon.

Zanele Mthembu who was previously the group head of e.tv's content production division, will head up Newzroom Afrika's broadcasting operation, with Malebo Phage running the newsroom operations. Malebo Phage also previously worked for e.tv.

Joe Thloloe and Dinesh Balliah will be on Newzroom Afrika's editorialethics oversight board.

Newzroom Afrika won't hire all of the Afro Worldview staffers who got fired last week when Afro Worldview got dumped from DStv, if if some of them apply, they will get "special consideration".

"In terms of employees at Afro Worldview, they will certainly be prioritised when it comes to our recruitment process. Each and every person who applies for various positions will be given an opportunity to go through the recruitment process but they will certainly be prioritised," Thabile Ngwato said at a media briefing on Tuesday.