Africa entered the era of rolling news on 1 June 2007 when CNBC launched the first 24-hour information network dedicated to coverage of news and business on the continent.
CNBC Africa broadcasts live from its main studios in Johannesburg and also takes feeds from bureaus in Lagos, Nairobi and London.
The new channel will have a heavy business bias and will feature live broadcasts of the opening and closing of key African markets, including the stock exchanges in Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.
CNBC Africa studio line up
The launch of CNBC Africa was attended by South African President Thabo Mbeki who participated in a live studio session, during which he answered questions from people from around the world. The Q&A presidential show was presented in the studio by Lerato Mbele and from the floor by Peter Ndoro, CNBC Africa's current director of communications.
Mbele and Ndoro are both former employees of the South African Broadcasting corporation - SABC, which also ‘transferred' anchors Mandlakazi Mpahlwa, Nikiwe Bikitsha, Fenly Foxen and Leigh Roberts to CNBC Africa.
“Today we are witnessing history being made in Africa,” said CNBC Africa Chairman Zafar Siddiqi at the launch. “This is a culmination of a long and hard journey over the past two and half years and I believe that we must celebrate because it is an important milestone in African broadcasting history.”
He explained that the channel's vision is to bring business in Africa to the wider community and to provide a platform for the ongoing inter-African discussion on globalization, employment, career, business and investment opportunities, living standards, infrastructure development and other relevant issues.
CNBC Africa puts the media spotlight on Africa
According to southafrica.info the launch of CNBC Africa and other Afrocentric channels will intensify the media spotlight on Africa at a time when the northern hemisphere view of the world is increasingly being challenged by economic realities and reforms at the United Nations and multilateral institutions.
Global perceptions of Africa could be changing radically as major international television stations such as CNBC Africa project a different image of the continent and provide African viewers with a context to better understand global forces and seek advantage for the continent in trade, investment and tourism.
One of Nepad's ideals is to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy. Encouraging and promoting African business is one of the cornerstones of this ideal, and new entrant into the business news market, CNBC Africa, is planning to do just that
While rolling news networks like CNN, BBC World, Sky and al-Jazeera International are available to television viewers in Africa, none broadcast from studios in Africa.
Further African bureaus will be established on a roll-out basis and by 2009 CNBC Africa hopes to be able to link to almost all African countries, with countries such as DRC, Mauritius and most likely, Tanzania figuring top of the list.
CNBC Africa will not only deliver hard-core business news and analysis but will also broadcast lighter programs.
CNBC affiliations throughout the world reach over 200 million households through a network of 1700 journalists and 129 news bureaus in 89 countries. It is owned by the NBC Universal family, the broadcasting unit of General Electric (GE).
Moneyweb Interview with Zafar Siddiqi, Chairman, CNBC Africa.
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