Newzroom Afrika to take over from Afro Worldview
Newzroom Afrika has been announced by MultiChoice as the winning bidder to replace Afro Worldview on its bouquet.
AfroWorld View, which was owned by businessman Mzwanele Manyi, was removed from the DSTV platform earlier this month after its contract came to an end.
The channel was previously known as ANN7 and owned by the controversial Gupta family.
Multichoice CEO Calvo Mawela believed Newzroom Afrika will promote a diversity of voices in the media.
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"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.”
Newzroom Afrika is a new company formed by television production entrepreneurs Thokozani Nkosi of Eclipse TV and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation.
Zanele Mthembu will head the broadcast operation, while the newsroom will be under the leadership of veteran journalist Malebo Phage.
“Today marks the birth of an exciting new and independent media voice in South Africa. We set out to find a quality new, black-owned, independent news channel to expand the diversity of SA news and enrich our democracy. We’re excited by the outcome,” says Mawela.