Touch now a radio boss
THABO “Tbo Touch” Molefe threw an exclusive bash last night to usher in his radio station, touchcentral.fm.
The soiree was attended by some 50 VIP guests from the entertainment and business spheres at the R120 000-a-night Villa Royale of the Saxon Hotel in Sandhurst, Sandton.
Some of the dignitaries in attendance were tycoon Tokyo Sexwale, Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula and businessman Duduzane Zuma.
The line-up of the new station was also unveiled and it sees a collaboration of Cliff Central and touchcentral.fm. The former has now become a podcast platform. Idols
judge Gareth Cliff is the breakfast host between 6am and 9am, journalist and author Lerato Tshabalala hosts the 9am to 11am slot, followed by Big Brother alumni Katlego Mohoaduba and Arye Kellman on the 11am to 1pm shift.
Dineo Ranaka and Oneal Madumo from Botswana will present between 1pm and 3pm when Molefe takes over until 6pm.
Some of the features of the station include a focus on West African showbiz and music hosted by a DJ from Lagos, Nigeria, on Friday nights.
Molefe’s popular Monday Replenishment, a spiritual segment that features pastors and motivational speakers such as TD Jakes and Noel Jones, returns. Molefe said he would also feature performances by groups like Joyous Celebration as they move into live performance.
“I’m nervous, and excited. We have created 17 new jobs for youngsters and it’s great to work with a team of young mavericks.
“What makes the station special is that every hour we give away big prizes such as a week to Mauritius.”
Molefe said there was a market for online radio in South Africa. “It costs less than R5 a day to listen to my show online, if you’re a fan. What is a R5? We are talking to a market that is active on data, we’re the uber of radio stations.”
He also said there was no bad blood between him and Metro FM, which he left suddenly earlier this year.
“I’m forever grateful for the opportunity Metro FM afforded me for 12 years. I can stand on my two feet today because of them. I’m the only DJ who has left to open his own station.”
Touch Central is touted as a service to offer “a music, lifestyle and talk platform not restricted by bureaucracy but, instead, led by the listeners’ views, demands and needs”.
“I’ve never been so excited about a partnership in my life. The world needs people who cooperate out of appreciation and passion. Gareth and I are that duo,” said Molefe.
Cliff said: “Partnering with Touch is a revolutionary opportunity to combine our respective ideas and experience in creating an online mega-station that is relevant and authentic and will offer advertisers a powerful vehicle to reach consumers.”
touchcentral.fm. goes live on Thursday. I mofokengl@sowetan.co.za