Tbo Touch broke the internet on Sunday when reports confirmed his return to MetroFM, a reacquisition that may cost SABC a monthly figure close to half-a-million rand.
Tbo Touch returns to boss mainstream airwaves
As reported by Sunday World, South Africa’s number one urban radio station has been on a downward spiral in recent months. Instability in staff retention — you will remember the controversy around Somizi Mhlongo and, more recently, Dineo Ranaka — has, as it turns out, not been good for business.
Two ‘highly-placed’ sources within the radio station informed the cited publication that in a desperate move to balance the books, SABC is hauling out the biggest salary package ever offered to a radiocaster to reel in Tbo Touch who, until now, was basking in independence with his online radio show at Cliff Central.
According to the sources, SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe has been key in piquing Tbo Touch’s interests with an offer he could not refuse, despite the ugly fallout that led to his exit in 2017.
Touch’s team has not responded to repeated efforts from Swisher Post to get confirmation on his return to MetroFM. SABC’s Gugulethu Ntuli lent further credence to this report when she informed Sunday World that MetroFM is expected to announce a new line-up soon.
Here’s how much MetroFM is forking out
It seems, the veteran jockey’s Touch Down show, which attracted the likes of Floyd Mayweather and other international acts linked to Tbo Touch’s personal network, is the product MetroFM needs to attract good business.
However, from what we understand, reeling Tbo Touch in was no easy feat. It’s alleged the veteran radiocaster demanded a monthly salary estimated at R1 million and a return to his peak afternoon slot.
While the latter was easily agreed upon, sources say “there was no way in hell they could afford to pay him such an amount.”
“They then settled at R480 000 per month. Touch is not only going to host his show there, but as part of his agreement, he would also go and find advertisers and sponsors for his show and for the station. That is why R30 000 of that package is for a car allowance,” the source claimed