Raj Lalbahadur, Interim CEO of Media24 says, "We are implementing the transaction with Novus Holdings today (Thursday, 31 October). The ruling also allows Media24 to continue on its strategic journey to establish and cement a viable and sustainable model for independent digital journalism, in line with irreversible consumer trends and preferences." 

Lalbahadur adds, "For this, we thank the Competition Commission for their thorough and comprehensive review and consideration of our application."

Lalbahadur reiterated that this renewed focus on its two hero digital news brands, News24 and Netwerk24, will allow it to concentrate its investments on enhancing and improving its digital content offering to subscribers.

"These range from further elevating the quality of journalism and streamlining publishing to deliver trusted news faster, to introducing personalisation and expanding enriched content," says Lalbahadur. 

Media24 says that the final publication dates for the last of the printed newspapers — Beeld, City Press, Daily Sun and Rapport — to appear on the shelf, the PDF editions of Volksblad and Die Burger Oos-Kaap on Netwerk24 and SNL24 operating as a hub will be completed by Tuesday, 31 December. 

From January 2025, Daily Sun will operate as a standalone, free-access news website and Rapport and City Press will reside at Netwerk24 and News24 respectively as digital-only brands at the core of the Sunday content offering, says Media24.

Media24 concludes that Beeld, Volksblad and Die Burger Oos-Kaap readers and subscribers will be able to continue accessing their news on Netwerk24, together with the nearly 100 000 subscribers who enjoy the platform's "All in One Place" multi-content offering. 

For more information, visit www.media24.com. You can also follow Media24 on LinkedIn.

*Image courtesy of LinkedIn