E News, a familiar face in celebrity television for South Africans, is officially coming to an end.
The beloved entertainment show will air its final episode on 25 September. This wraps up more than three decades of glitz, gossip, and red-carpet moments.
THE LEGACY OF E! NEWS
Since 1991, E! News has delivered Hollywood celebrity buzz straight into South African living rooms.
The programme survived several industry shake-ups, a global pandemic, and even a brief cancellation in 2020. But this time, the curtain is set to fall for good, according to Cape Town ETC.
A source close to production revealed, “Staff were told of the decision on 24 July, just before a repeat episode went out.
Emotions ran high. There was shock, but resignation too, it felt different from previous scares.”
THE RISE OF MOBILE CONSUMPTION OF MEDIA
E! Network’s move is tied to its full commitment to digital content. With mobile consumption soaring, the old TV format struggled.
“E News helped set the standard for glamorous celebrity coverage, but the world scrolls now, rather than tunes in,” another insider admitted.
There was a revival attempt in late 2022, where the show took up a late-night slot with presenters Adrienne Bailon-Houghton and Justin Sylvester.
However, the relaunch could not match the pace and engagement of digital media.
E! NEWS’ DIGITAL STATISTICS
E! reported astonishing digital statistics by mid-2025: more than 7 billion video views and a staggering 87 million followers on social media.
These numbers dwarf the ageing linear TV audience. “Our digital arm is on fire,” an E! spokesperson said. “But TV viewing just isn’t what it used to be.”
While E! News shuts its doors, the network isn’t vanishing. Popular reality shows like Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind and Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane will continue.
Fans can also expect ongoing coverage of awards season specials and celebrity news with Live from E!.
As for staff, some may find roles at Versant, NBCUniversal’s digital spin-off, though nothing is finalised yet.
E! NEWS’ PAST POPULARITY
E! News began with Dagny Hultgreen as its host and went on to feature stars such as Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic.
The show became famous for red carpet exclusives, celebrity interviews, and breaking the kind of stories that would trend globally, sometimes even here in South Africa.
E! News helped define celebrity journalism for a generation.
THE FINAL CREDITS
But today’s viewers, whether in Joburg, Durban, or Cape Town, prefer on-demand snippets and real-time stories over scheduled broadcasts.
As the final credits roll, South Africans join fans worldwide in bidding farewell to an icon. E! News leaves behind a glittering legacy, even as the entertainment world clicks forward into the future.
WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF WATCHING E! NEWS OVER THE YEARS?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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