(1) With reference to the announcement by the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board that a 24-hour news channel will be launched before the end of 2012, (a) when did the SABC Board approve the launch date for the 24-hour news channel, (b) what will be the estimated annual cost of this channel and (c) how is it anticipated that this news service will impact on the SABC’s ability to implement its financial turnaround strategy; (2) whether the SABC Board considered the budgetary provision including (a) full operational and (b) capital expenditure for the 24-hour news service; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether, in view of the SABC’s responsibility to honour loan repayments, prior permission was sought from the Minister of Finance to launch this news service; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?