NEWSWATCH: Media group Avusa, owner of, among other publications, the Sunday Times, has received an "unsolicited expression of interest" from a consortium, represented by Capitau Holdings, for its entire issued share capital, reports Business Day, which also reports the SABC is launching a 24-hour news channel - and MultiChoice's DStv will be the platform. Meanwhile, 'main man' Manyi is a bit miffed after spokesmen from several gov departments allegedly decided to boycott Jimmy's forum, reports Times Live, and Yvonne Johnston has tweeted she's off to try to help sort out the SABC. Good luck.
For more:
Business Day: Avusa confirms unsolicited offer... Speculation and rumours surrounding the offer led to Avusa's shares reaching their highest value since 2008 - good news for shareholders. What will certainly exercise some people, however, is that if the deal goes ahead, might the new owners compromise the political independence of some of the country's most influential newspapers?
Business Day: SABC eyes 24-hour news profits... In a great start it apparently will miss its launch date. But there's more... since the SABC is the public broadcaster, how exactly will using a pay-TV channel as the platform tie in with its mandate to be open to all? Anyway, it appears that if you're a DStv subscriber, and an SABC News fan, you might soon have 24 hours of it, but if you ignore the SABC News, then here's your chance to ignore 24 hours of it - on the trot.
Times Live: State spokesmen rebel against Manyi... Aah, shame, what's a guy to do when you throw a forum, for Alastair Campbell nogal, and only a few invitees turn up? Apparently complain to their respective bosses, it seems. But he denies he was snubbed - so why the complaint, then?
Twitter: Yvonne Johnston... Signing a contract... Johnston has tweeted to says she is "signing a contract that takes me to SABC for a year to get marketing back on track and re position TV stations. Huge and exciting challenge."
