e.tv Africa launches on DStv channel 144

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday December 15, 2010 00:00

Last year, e-tv became the first television broadcaster on the continent to introduce a 24-hour news programming, which is on Dstv's channel 403.

While this latest development was announced yesterday, some subscribers in Botswana have over the last couple of weeks been enjoying the e-africa channel on DSTV.

Although e-tv programming can still be accessed here on analogue television, because of e-tv's sister broadcaster, e-Botswana, many households in Gaborone and across the country have been struggling to tune into their favourite e-tv programming due to poor signals.

According to a statement from Multi Choice Africa, e-Africa will now be available through DSTV in 46 countries across Africa on Channel 144. The 24-hour African version of the South African free-to-air channel e.tv started broadcasting on the pay television satellite platform yesterday

The channel's group chief executive officer, Marcel Golding says, 'e.tv Africa has been received enthusiastically across the continent where e.tv programming is popular and sought after. The channel will include local hit series, Rhythm City, Scandal, Backstage, eKASI, Club 808, Craz-e, as well as Forgive & Forget. This expansion forms part of our broader strategy to provide entertainment produced on the continent to countries outside of South Africa, he is quoted in the statement.

The service also provides two half-hour eNews Africa bulletins (18:00 CAT and 19:00 CAT). These bulletins focus on pan-African news and provide international news for Africans by Africans.

President of MultiChoice Africa, Collins Khumalo said, 'We have witnessed the growth and popularity of channels made in Africa for Africa over the last few years, and we have responded by substantially increasing our investment in supporting these channels in Africa. I believe that e.tv Africa's addition to DStv will add even more value to our subscribers.'

Additional reporting by Multichoice