I always find news on Christmas interesting because on the one hand everyone deserves the holiday off, yet the show 'must go on.'
On SABC News, they had regular hosts for the full day, with just 1 anchor on shows that usually have two. Some shows were also shortened and replaced by dated documentary series for the festive seasnon.
Over on eNews, star Field Reporter Cathy Mohlanhlana anchored Morning News Today, her first ever anchoring job, which apparently went well if one goes with what is being said on Twitter. Gareth Edwards anchored his slot solo until 12pm (A Big Debate Re Air filled the last hour of his shift). Last year, rising star and super work horse Eleni Giokos (who has already left eNCA for Bloomberg) did both slots, from 6am until 1pm. Andrew Barnes did News Day (which doesn't simulcast on eTV on holidays). Up next was Duduzile Ramele, who gets this years workhorse award, anchoring Nikiwe Bikitsha's slot at 4pm and then News Night's slot from 6 pm through 8 pm. Again, the final hour of NewsNight which usually airs through the 8pm hour was replaced by the Big Debate. I have watched News Night every Christmas since what was then known as the eNews Channel launched back in 2008, and this was the first year there was absolutely no mention of the NewsNight name this evening or use of the NewsNight set (they just remained on the 4pm set). Last year was anchored by what was a very chirpy Iman Rapetti, years former one of the other anchors, usually junior, anchored. Robyn Adams again did eNews Prime Time, which you can see she didn't want to be there. She really no longer comes across as professional to me as she just always seems so miserable.
ANN7 (which I admittedly don't watch as much as I watch the others because I just can't get a firm enough grasp on their schedule) was the first news organisation on tv to break the news of cricket player Jacque Kallis' retirement, a first for the network, and I must say for Christmas coverage they did it quite well with call-in interviews and the likes. They also had longer form documentaries airing.
SuperSport Blitz was quite dry. They initially just did build up to Boxing day soccer and cricket coverage, much later (literally hours after ANN7 broke the news) inserting news on Kallis' retirement, along with year end reviews. Sky Sports News, which last year had some not too long form docs last year was live throughout the day, providing in depth build up to Boxing Day Sports, though they had a more relaxed feel to it than usual.
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