Gauteng – With just under a week to go before South Africans vote in the sixth democratic elections, South Africa has welcomed a new player on the media landscape.
Newzroom Afrika, a news channel, launches on pay TV DStv on the evening of Thursday May 2 (17h30). It will broadcast on channel 405; replacing Afro Worldview (formerly known as ANN7).
Television production entrepreneurs and former presenters Thabile Ngwato and Thokozani Nkosi co-founded Newzroom Afrika.
In an interview on Kaya FM on Tuesday, Ngwato told listeners that the timing of the launch of Newzroom Afrika is critical.
“We’re launching at a very important time — election time. We have a huge responsibility, so over and above our business imperatives, we know that South Africa needs this.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa toured the channel earlier today and will reportedly feature in the launch broadcast.
DStv says Newzroom Afrika will be available for streaming on smartphone, tablet or desktop through DStv Now, and to all its subscribers on packages from DStv Access all the way up to Premium.
“The addition of Newzroom Afrika will increase the diversity of voices and perspectives in South Africa’s news media space,” says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment at MultiChoice.
The 24 hour channel joins eNCA and SABC in the television news broadcasting landscape.