Pistorius murder trial to have dedicated TV channel

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s top cable TV provider says it will launch a 24-hour channel dedicated to covering Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.

MultiChoice announced in a statement Wednesday that it will launch a temporary “pop-up” channel on March 2, the day before the double-amputee Olympian goes on trial in a high court in Pretoria for killing his girlfriend in his home on February 14 last year.

MultiChoice said this is the first time it has launched a channel of this kind to cover “a major news event.” The provider says it has only launched temporary channels for South African versions of reality entertainment shows like ‘Idols’ and ‘Big Brother’.

The judge to preside over Pistorius’ trial hasn’t yet ruled if television cameras will be allowed to record images of court proceedings. Television coverage has been restricted in Pistorius’ previous appearances.