Advanced Television

Newzroom Africa must be open about contract terms

September 6, 2018

By Chris Forrester

Newzroom Afrika has been confirmed as the successful news channel bidder after DStv pulled the plug on Afro Worldview, previously owned by the Guptas as the highly controversial ANN7 news channel.

Commercial terms for the carriage have not been released, although there is strong pressure in South Africa for the contract terms to be made transparently clear given the number of rival bidders for the slot.  Earlier this week the political party, the Democratic Alliance, says it will use parliamentary pressure to compel the financial details to be revealed.

Newzroom Africa says it will encourage staff who worked on Afro Worldview to apply for new jobs at the channel.  Newzroom Afrika director Thabile Ngwato said: “The employees at Afro Worldview will certainly be prioritised when it comes to our recruitment process.”

Newzroom Africa will take over the empty channel 405 slot.

The new channel is black-owned, and with 50 per cent of its senior staff female. Reportedly the channel will go on air early in 2019.

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