Something big must be cooking in e.tv's entertainment kitchen. This after the channel announced WWE no longer be airing on the its channels from 1 September 2017.
Earlier this week, e.tv announced it will be airing long-running soapie 'Days of our Lives' on OpenView HD (Channel 104) — also available on DStv (Channel 194) — from 4 September.
In a media statement the channel announced that it will not be renewing its long-standing contract with WWE.
Marlon Davids, Managing Director of e.tv Channels says that the decision not to renew the WWE contract was not taken lightly. “e.tv has been the home of WWE in South Africa since 2001, but international rights contracts like this are complex,” he says.
“After reviewing our renewal options, we decided to focus instead on the direction our entertainment lineup has been taking over the last 12 months.
“We’re thrilled with the way our viewership numbers have grown, thanks to the local and international drama, comedy and reality shows which have found a home on the e family of channels."
But some WWE fans are not happy with e.tv's decision, and took to Twitter to express the discontentment with losing the show:
Y'all have killed our entertainment 😭😭😭
— ©ⓗ®🅾ⓛⓛ🅾 Lⓤ©ℹⓕⓔ® (@T_BREEZYTaker04) July 20, 2017
I totally agreed,what kind with this country channels,sabc is already bad news now etv
— Yolanda Presence (@YolandaPresenc2) July 20, 2017
Wht? No please don't do this. Oh God my life is ruined.
— Travis Spoja (@SpojaTravis) July 20, 2017
Yall just reminded me of a sad moment in history when yall stopped playing Emmanuel pic.twitter.com/Wr6a24Egys
— Vho Katlego🐐 (@Thethought_SA) July 20, 2017
I swear to god I feel like etv isn't an independent broadcasting channel anymore.. like they're pulling SABC stunts now 😥 RIP to WWE on e 😭
— LJ Rose (@Blaq_Rosee) July 20, 2017
Please don't do this to us
— Nyiko Mavasa (@NyikoManyikhos) July 20, 2017
LIKE REALLY ETV ... THIS IS REALLY NOT RIGHT.. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS😡😡, INSTEAD YOU BRINGING THIS RUBBISH SOAPIE "DAYS OF OUR LIVES" BACK👎👎👎
— Mrs_Neecy_V (@NeeciW) July 20, 2017