 | |
| Country | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide via eNCA International |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg,South Africa |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 16:9 (576i,SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | eMedia Holdings |
| Sister channels | e.tv eToonz eMovies eExtra eMovies Extra eReality eSERIES ePlesier News and Sports |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 June 2008; 17 years ago (2008-06-01) |
| Former names | eNews Channel (until 19 August 2012) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DStv | Channel 403 |
eNCA, also known aseNews Channel Africa, is a 24-hourtelevisionnews broadcaster owned bye.tv that focuses on African stories and events. Launched in June 2008, the channel isSouth Africa's first and third most- watched 24-hour news service.[1] The channel has covered several important South African events, including theMarikana miners' strike, which culminated in clashes with police, leading to 34 miners being killed and more than 70 injured.
eNCA's former ChiefMeteorologist Derek van Dam became the first broadcaster in South Africa to earn theAmerican Meteorological Society's Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation.[2]
eNCA's website launched in May 2013 and passed half a million unique users in September of that year. It had 2.4 million unique users as of February 2017.[citation needed]
eNCA is available onDStv channel 403.
In August 2012, the channel began testing on theEutelsat 28A satellite, which isfree-to-air across Europe. The channel officially launched in the region when it was added toSky in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 20 August 2012, and subsequently closed down on 31 October 2014.[3]
In 2007, the newly formed e. Sat TV applied for a pay-TV license during the Pay-TV Regulation period. Later that year, they were granted the license along with the already-operatingMultiChoice Africa, Telkom SA's media branchTelkom Media, Christian channelWalk on Water, andDigital Media. However, e. Sat TV was the first to give up and said the South African market was only big enough for two operators. They later announced that they would instead work as a channel supplier to the already operating Multichoice DSTV platform. On 1 June 2008, the channel took to the airwaves at 19h00 for a special edition of its flagship program News Night..[1] Over time, the channel continued expanding the number of shows, presenters, and broadcasting formats to appeal to an increasing viewership.
On 19 August 2012, the eNews Channel was rebranded as eNCA (eNews Channel Africa) ahead of their launch in the U.K. because they did not want to clash with existing global brands such asE! Entertainment Television. They also wanted a short and simpledomain name as they prepared to go online.[4][5] The channel also received a new logo depicting the continent of Africa.[6]
On 22 November 2015, eNCA published South Africa's firstvirtual reality news story, reported by Yusuf Omar and produced in conjunction with South African virtual reality company,Deep VR. The 360° video debuted on eNCA's Facebook page and has received more views than any other eNCA video. Following its success, eNCA produced a follow-up virtual reality report on the #ZumaMustFall marches in Johannesburg, which debuted on the eNCA Facebook page on 18 December 2015.
On 16 July 2018, the channel celebrated its 10th anniversary by unveiling new studios, a new look, and new line-ups.[7] The channel also introduced a new weekend lineup on 1 December 2018.
On 29 July 2019, eNCA introduced a new line-up.[8]
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A broadcast of eNCA was featured in the movieSafe House. The News Society was depicted as per its former name, eNews Channel.[citation needed]
In 2014, a documentary was released that showed how eNCA reported onNelson Mandela's passing.[citation needed]
In 2020, eNCA released a news headline on its social media pages alleging that thePresident of the Republic of South Africa,Cyril Ramaphosa, was going to address the nation; however, the Presidency denied this and deemed it fake news. In February 2021, eNCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger was accused of beingracist after she forced black political leaders of theUDM andIFP to wear masks to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19 but allowed their white counterparts of theDemocratic Alliance and the pro-AfrikanerFreedom Front Plus to be interviewed without wearing masks.[9][10]
eNCA has been accused of spreading right-wing propaganda andfake news by theAfrican National Congress andEFF leaderJulius Malema.[11][12]
