Free-to-air private broadcaster eTV plans to dump their prime-time 6.30pm English news bulletin to make way for profitable programmes.

The media firm says it wants to move bankable television shows to the premium time-slot.

Programming expert Willington Radu says the time change may affect the strategy of eTV’s competitors.

Those things do happen time again where not only eTV will change their news, but the SABC also does that as their competitor. It does matter.

— Willington Radu, Head of Programmes at Media Monitoring Africa

According to Radu, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) also currently flights its prime news at 6:30pm, and the eTV’s changes will leave local viewers without a range of bulletin options and times.

Radu says that although it is important for a democratic country to reflect a diversity of news and views, news consumption patterns are shifting towards social media.

People are shifting the way they consume news based on technology and that is something we need to take into account.

— Willington Radu, Head of Programmes at Media Monitoring Africa

Stephen Grootes refers to the etv news bulletin shifting from 7pm to 6.30pm. In fact, etv are planning to drop the news bulletin from prime time altogether.