South African news channel eNCA has closedown from Sky, after just over two years on the digital satellite platform.

eNCA however cites the cost of satellite transmissions versus cheaper online streaming services as a factor in its decision, alongside “changes to the way news media is consumed”.

The channel, which was beamed free-to-air in Europe via the Astra 2F satellite, could also be received using Freesat receivers through manual tuning or non-Freesat mode.

Viewers in the UK first reported seeing on-screen adverts about the channel impending closure last week. The service, on Sky channel 517, went off-air at breakfast time.

During its relatively short time in the UK, the channel has provided viewers with insight on some of South Africa’s big news stories, including the death of Nelson Mandela and the Oscar Pistorius trial. It launched in the UK in the midst of the Marikana Miners’ Strike which drew international attention when 34 miners were shot dead and many more injured.