Media and Sport

PROFILE: eMedia Investments has a range of media interests, of which e.tv is the most significant. eMedia Investments is the only independent free-to-air television broadcaster in South Africa.

eMEDIA INVESTMENTS PROPRIETARY LIMITED (eMEDIA INVESTMENTS)

Remgro has an effective interest of 32.3% in eMedia Investments that has a range of media interests, which include South Africa’s only private free-to-air television channels (e.tv, eMovies, eExtra, eToonz and eReality), eNews Channel Africa (eNCA), free-to-air satellite platform Openview, Gauteng-based radio station, Yfm, and various studio facilities and production businesses.

eMedia Investments has a March year-end and therefore its results for the year to 31 March 2020 have been included in Remgro’s results for the year under review. eMedia Investments’ contribution to Remgro’s headline earnings for the period under review amounted to R78 million (2019: R39 million).

eMedia’s share of television audience grew to 24.6% (March 2019: 24.1%), while e.tv’s share of prime-time remained consistent. This was driven by the performances of all the channel’s daily shows, i.e. Imbewu: The Seed, Scandal and Rhythm City. e.tv will introduce a new local daily show in the 2021 financial year.

The Openview platform has increased the number of activated set-top boxes to 1 992 844 at 31 March 2020 (31 March 2019: 1 574 395), with approximately 35 000 monthly activations. Advertising revenue on the platform increased from R132 million in 2019 to R194 million in 2020. The number of activated set-top boxes exceeded 2 million at 30 June 2020.

eNCA continues to be the most watched 24-hour news channel in the country (among LSM 8 to 10) with 47% of the market share. While advertising revenue remains under pressure, costs are being well maintained.

With the sale and closure of certain non-core assets during the year, the eMedia is now focused on its core businesses of broadcasting, content creation and being a platform and technology provider.