SABC News
 | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast media |
| Founded | 14 November 1922 |
| Headquarters | SABC Television Park, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Services | Radio, internet, and television broadcasts |
| Parent | South African Broadcasting Corporation |
| Website | www |
SABC News is the news division of the SABC, South Africa's public broadcaster. The division produces news content for the SABC's platforms, including bulletins for its television channels, radio stations, and digital properties, in English and other national languages.
History
The News Service was established in June 1950, replacing the programmes of the BBC. Although this was because the BBC broadcasts were seen as giving a British viewpoint of current affairs, there were also concerns that the SABC service would become overly pro-government, or "Our Master's Voice". By 1968, it had over 100 full-time reporters in the main cities and local correspondents all over the country, with overseas news provided by Reuters, AFP, AP and UPI. There was a News Film Unit which, prior to television in 1976, produced films for news agencies and television organisations.
In 1998, the SABC began to broadcast two TV channels to the rest of Africa: SABC Africa, a news service, and Africa 2 Africa, entertainment programming from South Africa and other African countries, via DStv.[1] In 2003, Africa 2 Africa was merged with SABC Africa to create a hybrid service, drawing programming from both sources.[2] SABC Africa closed in August 2008 after the SABC's contract with DStv was not renewed.[3] In 2007, the SABC launched a 24-hour international news channel, SABC News International, but closed in 2010.[4]
| Country | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | South Africa African continent |
| Network | SABC |
| Headquarters | SABC Television Park, Uitsaaisentrum, Johannesburg, Gauteng,  South Africa |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | SABC |
| Sister channels | SABC 1 SABC 2 SABC 3 SABC Lehae SABC Education SABC Children SABC SPORT SABC Encore |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 August 2013 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digital Terrestrial Television | Channel 9 (Discontinued) |
| DStv | Channel 404 |
On 1 August 2013, SABC News launched a 24-hour news channel on DStv, as part of an agreement with MultiChoice that also saw the launch of SABC Encore.[5] SABC News head Jimi Matthews stated that the channel was part of an effort by the SABC to account for changing viewing habits, explaining that "very few people are still satisfied waiting for bulletins in the evening. Previously, it was appointment viewing, where you rushed home to watch the 8 p.m. news. While we see continuous growth in radio news offerings, digital sites are exploding in growth. There is a decline in the television news service. If you are going to produce television news, you have to play in the 24-hour space."[6] In 2018, MultiChoice renewed its agreement with the SABC.[5]
Programming
- Cutting Edge, current affairs program on SABC 1
- Fokus, current affairs programme in Afrikaans that was broadcast by SABC 2
- Leihlo la Sechaba, current affairs in Sotho, Setswana and Sepedi on SABC 2
- Zwa Maramani, Current affairs programme in Venda on SABC
- Ngula Ya Vutivi, Current affairs programme in Tsonga on SABC 2
- Yilungelo Lakho, multilingual consumer affairs series on SABC 1
- Expressions, youth current affairs programme in English on SABC 1
- Morning Live, morning show on SABC 2
References
- ^ Media Studies: Institutions, theories, and issues, Pieter J. Fourie, Juta and Company Ltd, 2001, page 54
- ^ Transnational Television Worldwide: Towards a New Media Order, Jean K. Chalaby I.B.Tauris, 2005, page 121
- ^ SABC Africa to go off air for now, Mail and Guardian, 14 July 2008
- ^ SABC International goes bust, Mail and Guardian, 5 February 2010
- ^ a b "SABC signs deal with MultiChoice to stay in DStv". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "SABC launches 24-hour news channel on DStv". The Mail & Guardian. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
