JOHANNESBURG - Multichoice on Tuesday announced new kid on the block "Newzroom Afrika" as the winning bidder for its vacant 24-hour news channel on its pay-TV bouquet DStv.
The announcement came after Multichoice last week pulled the plug on Afro Worldview - the television channel formerly owned by the controversial Gupta brothers under the name ANN7 - which until August 20 had been aired on DStv channel 405.
Newzroom Afrika is a new company that was created by entrepreneurs Thokozani Nkosi of Eclipse TV, and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation.
“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 said.
“Accomplished television executive Zanele Mthembu will head the broadcast operation; while the newsroom will be under the leadership of veteran news media executive and journalist Malebo Phage. There will be an editorial ethics oversight board spearheaded by Joe Thloloe and Dinesh Balliah, a forward-thinking journalist and academic.”
Multichoice SA chief executive Calvo Mawela told the media that Multichoice hoped to expand independence and diversity in creating news, that is inline with enriching SA's democracy.