eNCA

eNCA (also referred to as eNews Channel Africa) is a 24-hour television news broadcaster focusing on South African and African stories. The broadcaster became South Africa's first 24-hour news service when it launched in June 2008.^[1]

Availability

eNCA is available on DStv channel 403 and can be viewed by its subscribers in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

In August 2012, the channel began testing on the Eutelsat 28A satellite, where it is free-to-air across Europe. eNCA officially launched in the region when it was added to Sky in the UK and Ireland on 20 August 2012, although it was closed down on 31 October 2014.^[2]

eNCA also offers news services to affiliate networks across Africa, and to The Africa Channel in the UK and Ireland.

History

The channel's earliest signs of birth was when the newly formed e.Sat TV applied for a pay TV licence during the Pay TV Regulation period in 2007. Later in the year they were awarded the licence along with the already operating Multichoice Africa as well as Telkom SA's media branch Telkom Media, Christian channel Walk On Water and On Digital Media. However, e.Sat TV was the first to throw in the towel and said the South African market was only big enough for two operators. They then later announced that they would instead work as a channel supplier to the already operating Multichoice DSTV platform. On 1 June 2008, the channel took to the airwaves at 19:00 for a special edition of its flagship programme News Night.^[1] Over time the channel continued expanding the number of shows, presenters and format to be more appealing to more viewers.

On 19 August 2012, the eNews Channel was rebranded as eNCA (eNews Channel Africa) ahead of their launch in the UK, because they didn’t want to clash with existing global brands such as E! Entertainment Television and wanted a short and simple domain name as they prepared to go online.^[3][4] The channel also received a new mosaic logo depicting the continent of Africa.^[5]

Online

eNCA.com

Launched in May 2013, eNCA.com is the extension of the eNCA brand into the online space, to allow consumers to access signature news coverage on any device. In September eNCA.com passed the milestone of half-a-million unique browsers, with 538,000 total UBs and 395,000 domestic UBs.

It harnesses the power of moving visuals, along with the accessibility and portability of web-based news. It is one of the major online video news sites in the country. Reports live on pertinent news and events across the continent, offers two newsletters, daily bulletins and world news, as well as renowned columnists (Fred Khumalo, Jeff Moloi, cartoonist Jerm, Dylan Rogers, Nick Said and Tank Lanning and bloggers (Derek van Dam, Paula Chowles, Wardah Hartley, Tanya Nefdt, Yusuf Omar).

Target market

eNCA.com has 51.67% male users and 48.33% female users, users are predominantly in the age brackets of 25 – 29 (14.42%), 60+ (13.93%) and 30 – 34 (13.86%). eNCA.com users are predominantly from Gauteng (44.6%), Western Cape (22.07) and KwaZulu-Natal (18.87%). Seventy-three percent of users are English speakers. Top three languages of eNCA.com users are English (with 73.69%), Afrikaans (30.16%), IsiZulu (11.23%).

Logo used by the eNews Channel until 19 August 2012.

News programming

The schedule includes general news coverage with headlines every 15 minutes and the eNCA's main news shows; Morning News Today, News Day and News Night. This will be often be displaced by rolling news including live reports, breaking news and business news.

Morning News Today

Dan Moyane and Uveka Rangappa anchor Morning News Today. The programme rounds up overnight news events, looking to the day's news agenda, and reviews the morning papers. Broadcast weekdays 6:00 – 9:00 a.m.

General News

Hosted by Joanne Joseph, General News keeps with the top stories and all the day's developing news, the latest business, sport and weather updates.

News Day

Anchored by Andrew Barnes and Bhavna Singh, News Day is eNCA's midday roundup. It include news, breaking news and analysis, rolling coverage of local and international news, interviews and analysis and the latest sports and business news. Barnes has anchored News Day since its first broadcast. He served as the channel's field anchor covering the US Midterm Elections in 2010, Shrien Dewani's fight against extradition in London and the British Royal Wedding in April 2011.^[6] The first half-hour of News Day is simulcast on e.tv.

Afternoon News

Hosted by Gareth Edwards, Afternoon News delves deeper into the day's top stories, with interviews and analysis from newsmakers around the South Africa and around the world. Airs Monday to Friday 16:00 - 18:00 CAT

News Night

Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti anchor eNCA's prime evening show; News Night. The programme wraps the day's top stories, and includes a business, sport and weather segment. Interviews have become the programme's trademark. It is considered eNCA's flagship show and was the first to be broadcast when the channel began in 2008.^[7] Maggs has anchored the show from the start, while his former co-anchors have included the likes of Redi Direko and Nikiwe Bikitsha.^[8][9]

Africa Edition

Hosted by eNCA's Africa Editor Chris Maroleng, the Africa Edition looks at Africa’s most compelling stories as they unfold, with expert insight, exclusive reports and interviews with Africa's newsmakers. Reporting teams are based in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos and Harare, and a network of experienced correspondents in every capital on the continent. Bulletins include in-depth coverage of business in Africa, especially the continent’s new business leaders, and the sports stories from Africa.

Weather

Weather Weather reports are provided every half hour by forecasters from eNCA's Weather Centre situated in Cape Town. Chief Meteorologist Derek van Dam became the first broadcaster in South Africa to earn the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation, a professional recognition of the quality of his weather broadcasts.^[10] All forecasts and graphics are created in house. Other meteorologists on the channel include Candice McKechnie, Joel Guy, Luis Fernandes and Afrikaans anchors Gerrie Keyser, Lynette van Schalkwyk and Annette Venter. Weather on the channel is not live because the weather clips are broadcast on 3 simultaneous channels; eNCA, e.TV, & eNuus.

Current affairs

Africa360

A weekly show hosted by Chris Maroleng. It features African stories and in-depth interviews with newsmakers from across the continent. Notable guests have included: former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, as well as US secretary of State Hillary Clinton.^[11]

The Justice Factor

A weekly show hosted by Justice Malala that focuses on the political news of the moment. Even-handed yet critical, it features revealing interviews with news makers, politicians and opinion-leading journalists. Helen Zille, Mac Maharaj and Gwede Mantashe are among the many well-known names that have made the guest list.

Maggs On Media

A digest of media issues and topical advertising. Presenter Jeremy Maggs' extensive experience in the media industry makes him an informed facilitator of discussions on issues facing the media. Regular insights from leading local and global thinkers, means viewers are exposed to trends affecting brand communications and the new technologies driving them. Active social media communities share their thoughts on programme content and often influence what is covered on the show.

Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola

A mad-cap take on South Africa's ever changing political and social landscape, there are no sacred cows for this weekly satire. Anchor Loyiso Gola is joined by David Kibuuka, the reluctant foreign correspondent, and political commentator puppet Chester Missing. Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola draws on the endless opportunities for satire provided by South African politicians. It enthralls viewers from across the political and social spectrum, and is committed to poking fun at the South African condition.

Tech Report

Covering everything from new products, innovations and ideas, to what's going viral on the World Wide Web. It also features in-depth reports on the latest products, websites and gadgets available and looks at how the web is affecting popular culture and the media at large.

Greenwall Productions

The show was created, written and produced by Nicky Greenwall and André-Pierre du Plessis.^[12] The first ten episodes were produced by Greenwall's production company, Greenwall Productions, to whom Du Plessis originally pitched the idea for the show.^[13] Greenwall changed the original working title Web Report to The Tech Report to form part of her collection of current affairs programmes produced for eNCA such as The Showbiz Report and The Style Report.

The first episode of The Tech Report aired on 30 September 2010 at 21:00 CAT ^[14] and was hosted by Celia Ncalane. She was only seen presenting the first episode after which Bongo Mbutuma became the presenter for the first season.

Homebrew Films

After Greenwall fell pregnant,^[15] Greenwall Productions declined to produce another season and various production companies pitched to take the show further.^[13] Another Cape Town based production company, Homebrew Films, was chosen to produce all other episodes of the show starting from November 2011.

In order to give a distinct new look and feel, Homebrew dropped the "The" from the title and the programme has since been known simply as Tech Report.^[16]

Since 10 November 2011, when Homebrew Films' Tech Report premiered, Ndoni Khanyile presented the show. After two years, Khanyile left the show to host Innovate Africa on Al Jazeera English.^[17] One of the show's correspondents, Tapfuma Makina, has since hosted Tech Report.^[18]

Correspondents

Correspondents who have been part of the show since its inception are Jonathan Allan-Barrett, who's based in Johannesburg and is assisted by producer JP Pienaar.^[13] Juliet McGuire and Seth Rotherham, both based in Cape Town, have also been with the show since the start. Gaming reviewer Grant Hinds later also joined the show as regular on-air contributor.^[19] Simon Hartley assists Seth Rotherham on his often hilarious scripts while Liebe Calitz, Greg Catell and later Hein Scholtz produced their inserts and acted as the show's production manager. Rusty du Preez shot most of the show's inserts and studio links at Homebrew Film's Cape Town offices, with Ben Heyns assisting as co-producer. Jaco Loubser is the executive producer.^[20]

Cancellation

After nearly 200 episodes, Tech Report was cancelled in June 2015.^[21] In October 2015 the show returned to eNCA's current affairs programming schedule.^[19]

Against All Odds

This weekly current affairs show is hosted by award-winning journalist Mpho Lakaje. Against All Odds aims to inspire the nation by proving South Africa has a wealth of talent and endless courage. The show profiles ordinary South Africans striving to overcome what often seem like impossible circumstances, as well as citizens who challenge conventional thinking, to improve their own lives and those of their communities.

Outside Eye

Outside Eye looks at how the world sees South Africa. The show features prominent international thinkers and interrogates global perspectives on South Africa's internal discourse - the good and the bad.

Notable coverage

While covering a service delivery protest at Wesselton, outside Ermelo, Mpumalanga reporter Jody Jacobs and cameraman Linge Ndabambi were attacked by an angry mob. Live television footage on the channel showed a group stoning a police vehicle, which sped away, and then rushing toward the cameraman and journalist, who sought cover in their satellite van. The van and equipment were damaged during the attack. Jacobs kept reporting and Ndabambi filming throughout the incident.^[22]

East Africa bureau chief Robyn Kriel reported extensively on the 2011 East Africa drought.^[23] In 2012 Kriel and her cameraman Orto Sori came under air bombardment while travelling with the Sudan People's Liberation Army.^[24]

Also in 2012 eNCA cameras caught defacers as they vandalised a controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma called The Spear.^[25] The channel covered the controversy over the picture from start to finish.

The 2012 Summer Olympics saw a two-man team, reporter Peter Stemmet and camera man Neil Raath covering South Africa’s achievements at the games in London,^[26] including interviews with country’s Olympic champions Cameron van der Burgh, Chad le Clos and the gold medal winning South African rowing team.

The Marikana miners' strike culminated in clashes with the police in which 34 miners were shot dead, more than 70 injured. A crew from eNCA captured graphic incident on camera and reported on what became one of South Africa’s most violent post-apartheid clashes.^[27]

Virtual Reality

On the 22nd of November 2015, eNCA published South Africa's first virtual reality news story, reported by Yusuf Omar and produced in conjunction with South African virtual reality firm, Deep VR. The 360° video debuted on eNCA's Facebook page and has received more views than any other eNCA video.

Following its success, eNCA produced a follow-up virtual reality report on the #ZumaMustFall marches in Johannesburg, which debuted on the eNCA Facebook page on 18 December 2015.

References

External links

• Official website
• ENCA on Twitter
• ENCA's channel on YouTube