Longtime anchor Martin Stanford has left Sky News after 25 years; started with Sky News in 1990 shortly after it launched.

The longtime anchor Martin Stanford has left Sky News (DStv 402) after 25 years.

"So it's farewell to Sky News after 25 years. It's been fun," Martin Stanford said on Twitter in April, followed by "Now, as President Bartlett liked to say, 'What’s next?" referencing the TV drama The West Wing.

Martin Stanford was one of Sky News' longest serving anchors and started with Sky News shortly after it launched. He joined Sky News in 1990 at the height of the Gulf War.

Fox News correspondent Ed Henry taken off air after revelations of his extra-marital affair characterised by his alleged 'really high sex drive'.

Fox News Channel (StarSat 261) has taken correspondent Ed Henry (44) off the air following revelations of his ongoing extra-marital affair, characterised by his alleged "really high sex drive".

Ed Henry is Fox News Channel's chief White House correspondent.

The American gossip magazine In Touch exposed Ed Henry's extra-marital affair with his Las Vegas mistress Natalia Lima that includes a secret double life of secret get-togethers, steamy messages and photos.

"We would pretty much just have sex. He has a really high sex drive, Natalia Lima told In Touch.

Ed Henry has been with Fox News since 2011 and has been covering the unfolding American presidential campaign.

"We recently became aware of Ed Henry's personal issues and he's taking some time off to work things out," says Fox News in a statement.

Hijacked actor, Rapulana Seiphemo, returns to Generations The Legacy set, 'on my way to recovery' after car crash 'that could have destroyed me'.

The former Muvhango and current Generations The Legacy soap actor Rapulana Seiphemo is back on set after a horrific car crash in February when he crashed his vehicle with two hijackers in a shocking incident he now says "could have destroyed me".

Three people, including one of the alleged hijackers, died in the car crash on the N14 near Diepsloot when Rapulana Seiphemo who was held at gunpoint in his Audi A4, crashed the vehicle when he and the one alleged hijacker Tebogo Makunyane who sat in the front passenger seat, struggled for control over the steering wheel.

The Audi A4 crashed into a Toyota Corolla, killing Donovan van Zyl and Jacobus Coertze, as well as Tebogo Makunyane. Co-accused Nathi Msiza and Rapulana Seiphemo were rushed to hospital and Nathi Msiza was later arrested.

According to SABC1's Generations The Legacy Rapulana Seiphemo returned to set on Wednesday as the character of Tau Mogale.

"Our much loved Tau Mogale is back and we all very excited to have him back. As we all know the actor behind Tau Mogale, Rapulana Seiphemo, was in a car accident that nearly cost him his life. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the well wishes and prayers," says the soap in a statement.

In an Instagram post, Rapulana Seiphemo shares a lengthy note about the incident that he says "could have destroyed me".

"As you all know by now, I went through a traumatic incident a number of months ago. I am well on my way to recovery; a recovery that would not have been possible without the thoughts and prayers of so many of you: my supporters, family and friends."

"I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It was something that could have destroyed me, but I hope and inspiration from all of you. I am blessed and grateful to be surrounded by all of you."

SABC dumps print as SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng says: 'We don't see a need to use print media'; will no longer use print to advertise jobs and tenders.

The controversial and famously matricless SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng says the public broadcaster is done with print, that the SABC "don't see a need to use print media" and that it will immediately stop advertising jobs and tenders anywhere else than through SABC channels.

Besides dumping print, also effective immediately, the SABC has stopped using external marketing agencies to promote the public broadcaster and its various programmes, channels and stations.

"The SABC has decided that it will advertise its employment vacancies and tender advertisements on the SABC's television, radio and digital platforms only. This decision will be implemented with immediate effect, henceforth, the public broadcaster will no longer place advertisements in any print and other media platforms," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng in a statement.

"The SABC also decided that the services of external marketing agencies will no longer be utilised as the corporation has sufficient internal creative capacity to deliver on any related marketing campaigns".

In an inteview on the SABC2's Morning Live, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "people who want to do business with SABC; they should use our platform. We as SABC so, too, we must use our platform that we put tenders on our radio platforms. Because we have those platforms."

"We don't see a need to use print media. When actually we have more platforms. People listen to SABC, watch SABC. And we are saying those who want to do business with SABC now is the time for them to listen to our radio stations, to watch television. They will have all information that they need," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The SABC's chief financial officer (CFO) James Aguma said the SABC's marketing budget is about R180 million and wants to "redirect a couple of those millions of rand by getting people who are already employed to do those tasks".

A print media relationship of the SABC that will continue is the controversial one with the Gupta-owned newspaper The New Age in the form of The New Age breakfast briefings that the SABC televise on SABC2 as an extension of its Morning Live show.

Over the past two years Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been vocal with his views on and criticism of South Africa's print media, calling South African print media "propaganda" in July 2014 and saying it is "portraying and even poisoning the mindset of people".

Hlaudi Motsoeneng previously repeatedly called for the "licensing" of South African journalists and in September 2015 said he wants social media, especially Facebook and Twitter in South Africa "to be regulated".

Actor Andile Gumbi of Mzansi Magic soap isiBaya arrested and jailed for assault after allegedly hitting his wife and dragging her on the floor.

Actor Andile Gumbi of the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel's soap isiBaya was arrested and jailed for assault after allegedly hitting his wife.

In the latest case highlighting South Africa's ongoing scourge of violence against women, Andile Gumbi was arrested and charged with assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm after he allegedly attacked and punched his wife and dragged her on the floor.

Andile Gumbi portrays the character of Zweli in isiBaya that is produced by The Bomb Shelter for M-Net's Africa Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

According to reports, Andile Gumbi's wife allegedly locked him out of their Randburg home, after which he allegedly broke down the door, attacked her, physically punched her and dragged the terrified woman across the floor.

A case was opened at Douglasdale police station and Andile Gumbi was arrested. The soap actor spent Freedom Day behind bars and appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Andile Gumbi was released after his court appearance. He will have to appear in court again later this month.

There's been no statement from Mzansi Magic regarding the actor.

DStv Media Sales,Media24 and Caxton change their rate cards; eliminate agency commission in line with Competition Commission investigation.

DStv Media Sales, Media24 and Caxton are changing their rate cards, eliminating agency commission and changing the discount structure following an investigation by the Competition Commission.

DStv Media Sales, the commercial airtime sales division selling TV commercials and sponsorships across M-Net's and MultiChoice's various DStv channels, has changed its rate card effective from 1 May 2016 regarding the settlment discount structure for media agencies booking ads on DStv channels.

DStv Media Sales says in a statement that its rate card was changed "to address any legal uncertainty regarding their compliance with the Competition Act. DStv has reduced its rates to reflect this amendment".

In DStv Media Sales' previous rate card worked according to the structure where media owners pay a 16.5% commission or early settlement discount to media agencies. DStv Media Sales says it "is a long established practice in many parts of the world and has been in existence for considerable time".

This practice is being investigated by the Competition Commission and DStv Media Sales says it's working with the Competition Commission regarding its investigation "and will continue to do so with a view to resolving this matter".

"As from 1 May 2016 and thereafter all rates will be published nett of any agency settlement discounts".

Media house Media24 in a statement says it is also changing the way it operates and will no longer follow "the industry-wide practice" that's been used for decades.

"The industry-wide practice of making available a 16.5% early settlement discount or commission to media agencies which book advertising with Media24 properties – including all newspapers, magazines and online platforms – has been in existence for decades."

"In order to avoid legal risk or regulatory exposure we have revised all our rate cards from 1 May 2016 and are in the process of communicating the changes to all media agencies. New rate cards will exclude any agency commissions or early settlement discounts."

Media house Caxton says it will  operate "on the basis of a 15.5% advertising agency fee for accredited advertising agencies, with a further 1.5% settlement discount, where payment is effected within 45 days".

kykNET soap Binnelanders apologises over 'Power Cock' and 'Power Vagina'; says Stark Films 'extremely upset' over on-screen visuals that will 'never appear again'.

kykNET's Binnelanders weekday soap has apologised for "power cock" and "power vagina" calling the on-screen slip-up "unacceptable" and saying the soap is "extremely upset" that it happened.

Neither the final episode controllers at the Stark Films production company noticed, nor the programme acceptance department and quality check controllers at M-Net in Randburg, that two of the characters in the family time soap were playing their computer game under the names of "Power Cock" and "Power Vagina".

kykNET (DStv 144) viewers however did instantly notice the racy names that the characters of Tertius and Naomi used for the player profiles of the online game in Monday evening's episode.

"Be assured that such visuals will never again appear in an episode of Binnelanders," says the soap which apologised for Monday night's episode on M-Net's Afrikaans language channel on MultiChoice's DStv.

Stark Films said "we sincerely apologise for the unacceptable visuals" that appeared in the episode.

"It was added at a very late stage during the compilation of the episode and the words on screen slipped past all our quality assurance processes. Not that it's an excuse - we ourselves are extremely upset that it could have happened."

The SABC invites TV producers to its discussion of the public broadcaster's local content needs on Wednesday with existing and new content producers.

The SABC wants to discuss the public broadcaster's additional new local content needs with existing and new South African TV producers on Wednesday, 4 May, with producers outside of Johannesburg who can watch a video feed of the meeting at regional SABC offices tomorrow.

New and established TV producers are invited to attend the SABC's discussion on local content on Wednesday 4 May at the SABC's M1 Studio at the public broadcaster's Auckland Park headquarters.

The local content meeting will start at 11:00 and continue until 14:00 on Wednesday.

The meeting will be beamed countrywide to regional SABC offices, with TV producers who are welcome to attend at the broadcaster's provincial offices in Kimberley, Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit, Mahikeng, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Bloemfontein and Tswane where they can follow the video feed.

Interested TV producers can contact the SABC's Vuyo Mthembu at mthembuv@sabc.co.za

The local content discussion is part of the SABC's plan for proposed new "language-based" TV channels the SABC wants to broadcast as part of its digital terrestrial television (DTT) bouquet.

The SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng says the SABC is still looking to secure funding in order to run and programme the channels.

The SABC wants to start a Sotho TV channel catering to Sesotho, Setswana and Sepedi languages.

A Nguni TV channel will include Zulu, Xhosa, Siswati and Ndebele languages.

A third new language-based TV channel will focus on Tsonga and Venda language speakers.

A fourth SABC TV channel will be for Afrikaans viewers.

The SABC is also working on establishing its SABC Sport brand as a separate sports channel.

SABC to further scale back its already reduced international content on its TV channels in favour of more locally produced programming.

The SABC will scale back the already reduced international content on its three entertainment TV channels even further in favour of locally produced programming.

The volume and number of international shows and movies – mostly American – on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 will be reduced even more as the public broadcaster tries to replace foreign programming with more local programming in different languages.

Since 2009 when a cash-flow crisis brought the struggling South African public broadcaster to the brink of financial collapse, the SABC the last seven years has largely given up on trying to bring its audiences contemporary international fare in the form of buzz-carrying hit shows and newer movies.

Two years ago the bulk of the international content that remained – mostly on SABC2 and SABC3 – were pushed to late prime time and late night timeslots on the SABC channels' schedules.

On SABC2 viewers for instance have to wait until 22:00 and 23:00 to see old series and seasons of international dramas like The 4400, Smallville, The Vampire Diaries and Person of Interest, while the latest season of shows like The Amazing Race that used to be on SABC3 found a new home on pay-TV channels like The Sony Channel (DStv 127).

South African viewers who want to see a selection of the latest quality foreign fare from Britain and America in terms of documentaries, hit series, films and kids' shows realised that they had to pay for it by becoming subscribers to available pay-TV services like MultiChoice's DStv.

Now the SABC will cut back its already reduced international content even further.

"There are those international content, within the organisation, we have taken a decision to remove international content and come with local content," said the SABC’s controversial chief operating officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Annually the past few years, and something that's still ongoing although decreasing, the SABC lose millions of rands in what is referred to as "content impairment costs".

Part of this content impairment costs are international programming that the public broadcaster must buy in dollar through its acquisitions division, some of which it then fails to schedule and broadcast in time according to screening rights contracts, and then loses.

Buying less international content means a reduction on content impairment costs on the SABC's balance sheet in favour of local content commissioned by the public broadcaster that it not only owns but can also repeat multiple times and sometimes license to other broadcaster for residual income.

Acquiring less and cutting down on its already reduced international content offering, the danger however is that the SABC’s existing relationship with various international content distributors could possibly deteriorate further.

The international TV content acquisition game is not just about what broadcaster will pay the highest broadcasting licensing fee or the most for a studio content output deal, but also about business relationships, the strength of ongoing existing relationships as well as personal dealmaking.

Hollywood studios and international content distributors will often sell shows and make output deals because of a better existing relationship with a trusted broadcaster that carries more weight.

In 2012 SABC3 for instance announced that it had the international reality show The Impossible, although in fact a better and more trusted relationship with M-Net saw the pay-TV broadcaster secure and acquire the show.

The SABC says it has established "in-house production capabilities" to produce more of the new local content that the public broadcaster wants to put on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3, as well as some planned new "language-based" TV channels for digital terrestrial television (DTT).

"We are getting rid of RFP book," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng, explaining that the SABC is getting rid of its Request for Proposals book – the document it used to issue annually to the South African TV production sector specifying what shows it wanted that production companies could then pitch for.

"SABC we dictate for people what kind of content they should pitch which kills the creativity within those individuals. So we are saying allow people to come with their own creativity and their own ideas so that we can compute with other broadcasters," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The SABC says in a press statement that it "remains committed to serving the millions of South Africans with informative, educational, entertaining and compelling content".