CNBC Africa
An African business and financial news television network produced under license from CNBC International.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
CNBC Africa is an African pay television business-news network launched on 1 June 2007. It was founded by Rakesh Wahi and Zafar Siddiqi and is owned by Africa Business News, operating under a license from CNBC International. The channel is headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, where it produces local programming from its studios. The network is positioned as a regional business-news service within the broader CNBC international system. Its coverage focuses on African markets, companies, finance, investment, economic policy, resources, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and other subjects relevant to business audiences across the continent. Alongside locally produced reporting, CNBC Africa carries or incorporates programming and updates from CNBC Europe, CNBC Middle East, CNBC India, CNBC Pakistan, CNBC US, and other CNBC affiliates. This combination gives the service an African editorial focus while connecting viewers to international financial and business news. CNBC Africa produces approximately seven hours of local programming on each business day. Its Johannesburg production base supports studio programming, interviews, market updates, and feature reporting. The channel has also maintained bureau operations in a number of African locations, and its business coverage has included programming associated with Cairo, Casablanca, and Khartoum. The resulting model combines a South African production hub with continent-wide reporting and links to the wider CNBC network. The brand has received recognition in African business and financial journalism competitions. In 2009, its programme "Doing Business in Africa" received the Best Television Feature award at the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, while reporter and producer Talia Sanhewe won a Vodacom Journalist of the Year television-news category award for the Western Region. In 2010, CNBC Africa won the Banking Reporting category at the Africa investor Financial Reporting Awards and received the Broadcast Award at the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism. Producer Natascha Jacobsz-Botha also received the Newcomer of the Year award at the Citadel Words on Money Journalism Awards that year. CNBC Africa's principal brand value is its combination of specialist financial journalism, African market relevance, and access to the reporting infrastructure of the international CNBC network. Its typical audience includes investors, executives, policymakers, entrepreneurs, finance professionals, and viewers seeking business information about African economies. Publicly available reference material identifies the network's launch, ownership and licensing structure, production base, local-programming volume, bureau presence, awards, and international CNBC connections, but does not provide enough information to establish a detailed current corporate structure, executive roster, revenue profile, or distribution footprint by country.
History
CNBC Africa was established by Rakesh Wahi and Zafar Siddiqi and launched on 1 June 2007 as an African pay television network. The service was created under license from CNBC International and is owned by Africa Business News. Its headquarters and principal production facilities are in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. From its launch, the network's role was to adapt the CNBC business-news model to African audiences while retaining access to the wider CNBC affiliate system. Its editorial scope includes African companies, markets, finance, investment, economic policy, resources, infrastructure, and business development. The channel also carries programmes and news updates originating from CNBC Europe, CNBC Middle East, CNBC India, CNBC Pakistan, CNBC US, and other CNBC affiliates, giving it an international news connection in addition to its regional focus. CNBC Africa produces about seven hours of local programming on each business day. The local output is generated at its Johannesburg studios and is supported by bureau operations in Africa. Reference material identifies bureau activity associated with Cairo, Casablanca, and Khartoum. This structure allows the network to combine a central South African production operation with reporting and programming aimed at viewers across the continent. The channel's journalism received several industry recognitions soon after launch. In 2009, "Doing Business in Africa" won the Best Television Feature at the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards. Talia Sanhewe, identified as a CNBC Africa producer and reporter, won the Western Region Television News category at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year awards. In 2010, CNBC Africa won the Banking Reporting category at the Africa investor Financial Reporting Awards and received the Broadcast Award at the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism. The same year, producer Natascha Jacobsz-Botha won Newcomer of the Year at the Citadel Words on Money Journalism Awards. The network was also nominated in infrastructure and tourism feature categories at the 2010 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards. The available reference material does not establish a complete chronology of later ownership changes, leadership appointments, distribution agreements, financial performance, or programming changes. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest for the network's 2007 launch, licensing and ownership arrangements, Johannesburg production base, African bureau structure, international CNBC connections, and early journalism awards.
- 2010
Multiple financial-journalism recognitions
[1]CNBC Africa won the Banking Reporting category at the Africa investor Financial Reporting Awards and received the Broadcast Award at the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism.
- 2010
Producer recognized as journalism newcomer
[1]Natascha Jacobsz-Botha won Newcomer of the Year at the Citadel Words on Money Journalism Awards.
- 2009
Early business-reporting awards
[1]The programme "Doing Business in Africa" won Best Television Feature at the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, and Talia Sanhewe won a Vodacom Journalist of the Year television-news category award.
- 2007
CNBC Africa launched
[1]CNBC Africa began broadcasting on 1 June as an African pay television network produced under license from CNBC International.
Products and positioning
A pan-African business and financial news television service combining locally produced African coverage with programming and updates from the wider CNBC international network.
Television programming · 2007
Local business-news programming
CNBC Africa produces approximately seven hours of locally generated programming on each business day from its Sandton, Johannesburg studios. The output covers African business, markets, finance, economic policy, companies, investment, and related subjects through news updates, interviews, analysis, and features.
Business documentary and feature programme
Doing Business in Africa
A CNBC Africa programme focused on business activity and commercial opportunities in African markets. The programme received the Best Television Feature award at the 2009 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards.
International news feed · 2007
International CNBC programming and updates
The channel features programmes and news updates from CNBC Europe, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, the United States, and other CNBC affiliates. This offering extends CNBC Africa's local reporting with international business and financial coverage.
Recent events
- 2010
CNBC Africa won financial journalism awards[1]
Other
The channel won the Banking Reporting category at the Africa investor Financial Reporting Awards and received the Broadcast Award at the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism.
- 2010
CNBC Africa producer received newcomer journalism award[1]
Other
Producer Natascha Jacobsz-Botha was named Newcomer of the Year at the Citadel Words on Money Journalism Awards.
- 2009
CNBC Africa received recognition for African business reporting[1]
Other
The network's programme "Doing Business in Africa" won the Best Television Feature at the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, and reporter-producer Talia Sanhewe won a Vodacom Journalist of the Year television-news category award.
- 2007
CNBC Africa launched as an African pay television network[1]
Product launch
CNBC Africa began broadcasting on 1 June 2007 as an African business and financial news channel produced under license from CNBC International.
Sources2 sources
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