[Submitted via press release]
Africa News Network 7 heralds a new era in news broadcasting
On Wednesday, 21 August, Africa News Network7 (ANN7) will go live on DStv channel 405, heralding a new era in news broadcasting which will give ordinary South Africans access to all sides on stories of national importance.
ANN7 is South Africa’s newest 24-hour news channel focusing on constructive, nation-building stories in the interests of building a culture of unity and pride in SA.
Headquartered at Midrand, Gauteng, ANN7 will be the most technologically advanced 24x7 news channel in South Africa. Its latest newsroom automation systems, cutting edge electronic news gathering technology and a network of sharp, young journalists and experienced editors will give a fresh perspective to the TV viewers of the country.
“We are excited about launching this channel. I am looking forward to presenting our viewers with a channel that is unique in its profile and choice of programmes. ANN7 is a strong addition to existing news channels in the media landscape of this country,” said Nazeem Howa, Director at Infinity Media, the networks promoter of the channel.
The leadership of ANN7 is ensuring the channel offers innovative programming that resonates with local viewers and encapsulates issues relevant to youth and women of the country. “We understand that as we grow through the years of democracy, our viewing needs become more diverse and we as pillars of democracy also need to evolve. This channel will certainly be a significant step forward in that direction,” added Howa.
Staffed by a team of over 150 journalists with experience in leading newsrooms like SKY and Al Jazeera, ANN7 will have dedicated teams for the different segments ranging from politics, to business, sports and entertainment news.
Among some of the names that will be leading the programming at ANN7 are Chantal Rutter Dros who will be hosting prime time shows ANN7 Headlines and ANN7 Prime, Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon will host Vuka Africa, Kwaito pioneer Arthur Mafokate will host a weekly flagship sport show Hola Weekend and Jimmy Manyi will be hosting a weekly hard talk show Straight Talk.
The launch of ANN7 will bring to three the number of local news channels on DStv. “When we started implementing our strategy of increasing local content on DStv, we did not only look at general entertainment but also at news and actuality programming. We look forward to welcoming ANN7 onto our DStv platform,” said MultiChoice South Africa CEO, Collins Khumalo.
ANN7 will be available to DStv customers with the following packages: DStv Access, DStv Family, DStv Compact, DStv Extra and DStv Premium.