As the first free-to-air commercial television station in South Africa, e.tv has shown enormous growth since being launched in October 1998. With only six hours a day of broadcast time, the channel soon expanded to 24-hour programming.
By 2001 e.tv became the largest English-medium channel in the country and the second largest overall, a position it retains with its “yesterday” viewership at 15.2 million (AMPS 2011).
The broad appeal of e.tv’s programming has resulted in loyal viewers spanning all age, race and income groups across 80.5% of the South African population.
According to e.tv’s CEO, Marcel Golding, each year proves to be challenging, yet truly exhilarating. It’s taken us a good few years to get the recipe right, and we continue to shape ourselves according to our audiences needs.
He says that e.tv’s popularity boasts no secret formula. He says, `The reason why we do so well is because we are incredibly focused on our programming. We cater for our audiences; it’s really as simple as that.’
Celebrated e.tv programmes include local series - Scandal, Rhythm City, eKasi, Step Up or Step Out, Forgive and Forget, Blame it On Fame and 4 Play.
e.tv is famous for its free movies and special movie festivals and our immensely popular themed evenings – Red Carpet Thursdays, Friday Action Night, Saturday Family Feature and our Sunday night movie blockbuster slot.
International series such as How I Met Your Mother, My Name is Earl, My Boys, WWE Wrestling and Fear Factor all have a loyal following and our 2011 line-up includes more hit local and international series to keep viewers entertained.
e.tv VISION
Our vision is to promote, profile and position e.tv as the channel of choice and the number one entertainment television network in South Africa.
e.tv AUDIENCE
Independent TV audience surveys confirm that e.tv is the second largest channel in the country.
e.tv’s terrestrial signal reaches 80.5% of the South African Population.
e.tv appeals to all races, all ages and all income groups and is the most viewed English language channel in the country
69% of the e.tv audience are Black
Among the wealthiest 20% of the population is included in the top end of our target market
Of the 15,2 million viewers 67% are in LSM 5-8. The highest growth area has been viewers from the African Middle Class.
eNews
eNews Prime Time, e.tv’s flagship news programme, is widely regarded as the most reliable and independent news source in the country and is the most viewed English language news attracting all ages, races and language groups.
The company took what was already a powerful brand on e.tv and launched the eNews Channel, a 24-hour news channel in June 2008 through its sister company eSat.
The eNews Channel offers local news from South Africa, regional and international news, including live reports, breaking news, sport, weather, entertainment, financial information and current affairs shows which look at issues in-depth.
Today, the eNews Channel is the most watched news channel on the DStv bouquet.
Following the success of the eNews Channel, eSat launched eNews Africa in 2009, broadcasting daily bulletins on television channels across the African continent.
Last year in October, South Africa’s first independent 24-hour television news service (the eNews Channel) extended its broadcast footprint to include Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Malawi on the DStv southern African bouquet on channel 403.
The eNews Channel continues to consolidate its position as the market leader amongst News Channels with over half a million regular viewers according to AMPS.
Earlier this year, eNews started broadcasting Afrikaans news bulletins on MNet’s Afrikaans channel kykNET.
eAfrica
Viewers in 12 countries across Africa now have access to a 24-hour syndicated version of South Africa’s e.tv. e.tv has been received enthusiastically across the continent where e.tv programming is popular and sought after.
Research shows that Africans are passionate for high-quality African and International produced content. The channel also broadcasts two live half-hour news bulletins from the eNews Africa service. These bulletins focus on pan-African news by Africans for Africans.
e.tv Africa’s syndicated broadcasts are provided on a free-to-air, predominantly terrestrial basis, in the following countries:
• Kenya on Nation 2
• Namibia on One Africa Television
• Zimbabwe on ZTV2
• Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Guinea, Burundi and the Central African Republic on Star TV
• Nigeria on MITV
• Ghana on eGhana, e.tv’s sister channel
• Botswana on eBotswana – which is also a sister channel to e.tv.
e.tv is mindful of the importance of local content in these territories and has therefore provided local broadcasters with the option to insert local news and other local content.
TOP MANAGEMENT
Marcel Golding - Chief Execuitve Officer
Bronwyn Keene-Young - Chief Operating Officer
Willem Nel - Chief Financial Officer
Khalik Sherrif - Chief Commercial Officer