The corrupted, Guptas-infested, unprofessional "News" channel ANN7 will be put of its misery soon and the horror or welcome surprise that happens next will be revealed on Monday, 30 April.
The channel's going to change name to Afro Worldview and will change in look and feel - and editorial policy.
According to a statement sent out by DStv, the channel "will adopt a completely new look and feel with a renewed editorial policy in line with the BCCSA code." i.e. they're claiming it won't be corrupt - which will be up to viewers and the BCCSA to decide.
Of course these developments are because it's been bought by Mzwanele Manyi, who's changing the name of his other asset too.
The New Age newspaper will change name to Afro Voice and according to Manyi, it's going to "be in line with the press code". It's mindboggling that he even has to say it.
He's quoted as saying that he wants to break away from the past and give viewers and readers a fresh outlook on the news.
This from the statement:
Afro Worldview’s vision is to be the trusted voice of Africa. They strive to be the most representative voice of the country and the continent, that would also ensure that the plight of the poor and marginalised is brought to the fore.
We've been made so many promises by too many people before, which makes it impossible to believe big talk so Afro Worldview and Afro Voice have a
lot to prove to us.
And they've only got four months to do it.
These developments come after MultiChoice turned it's back on ANN7 in January this year after MultiChoice was implicated in a scandal whereby they were accused of paying kickbacks to the Guptas through ANN7.
MultiChoice responded by denying the allegations and distanced itself from the channel, stating that ANN7's contract wouldn't be renewed when it runs out in August this year. And it won't, unless it wins a bid to stay.
MultiChoice is putting forward a display of being impartial by running a bid process for a black-owned news channel to take over ANN7's spot. They're announcing the winner of the bid at the end of July.