October 8, 2004
By Derek Wilson
Slowly and intentionally I have been weaning myself off Sky News and returning to CNN for longer stretches.
I know Sky News has been voted the best television news service for the fifth consecutive year, but lately I have been finding it a little too parochial and inward-looking.
Of course, it is a British service (owned by Australian-American Rupert Murdoch), but I do find that it is inclined to wave the Union Jack a little too much. I cannot pinpoint a specific instance of this to broaden my argument here and now. It simply is a growing feeling - particularly when the award-winning anchorman, Jeremy Thompson, is in the chair, often with the slightly hoarse-voiced but likeable Anna Botting.
"A very good evening to you," Thompson burbles, his voice sounding not unlike ball-bearings rolling round in a Tupperware toothglass.
And maybe its been the recent surfeit of weather presentations by the eternally dreary Hazel. No surname is ever given when she is introduced but it is probably something like Bloggs.
However, I would always return to Sky at weekends, even if they focused on the Pearly King and Queen right through the weekend, for that is when my favourite newsreader, Lisa Aziz, is the anchor. Lately, though, I have been catching her only on Sunday nights.
I often wonder what her background is and why she seldom smiles and never laughs.
So what draws me to CNN then?
Better coverage of the American election. For me, British politics is far more interesting than American politics at any time, so I always find CNN's coverage unsurprisingly better on their home turf. However, most of the American politicos are dead boring.
CNN also has some great anchors. For me, the Brit, Richard Quest, is the best of the lot, foghorn voice and all. And then there is the beautiful Fionnula Sweeney, who certainly doesn't sound American. Maybe she's Irish. She is a very confident and self-possessed presenter - and a shrewd interviewer, I wish they would let her do more interviews
.
Another reliable CNN presenter is our very own Tumi Makgabo.
Perhaps the best news reporter of all the DStv news services is Iranian-born British reporter Christiane Amanpour, whose report the other night on the run-up to the election in Afghani-stan and the plight of women there was quite an eye-opener.
I tend to watch BBC World News the least of the three 24-hour news services on DStv. The only BBC anchors who can hold me to the service are the crisply spoken Anita McNaught and the obviously intelligent Mike Kemsley (or is it Emslie?). Of course, HARDtalk with the persistent Tim Sebastian is a must if I'm in.
While on DStv topics, let me once again sound off about all the repeats on its various channels. So tell me I'm like a long-playing record stuck in a groove, but I'm not the only viewer who complains.
Apart from the large number of movies that have been repeating for ages - The Doctor's Dilemma was on again earlier this week - I think I have also seen all the old Law & Order episodes more than once as well as umpteen episodes of Inspector Morse, Taggart and Midsomer Murders.
And are we deliberately being taken back in time with the Floyd series in which he is looking increasingly younger? The Two Fat Ladies are back too, even though the old dear who drove the motorcycle and sidecar combination is now long dead. (They remain nevertheless delightful.) And how old are the Rick Stein fish cookery episodes now being trotted out? Mind you he too is always worth watching.
Not so long ago I sent Rafiek Mammon to some Multi-Choice do in Johannesburg, asking him to inquire about all the DStv repeats. Some functionary up there gave him a detailed, complex explanation but said she would be coming to Cape Town soon, would look me up and explain the repeat situation. I'm still waiting.
  
 
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