Tbo Touch Spills The Beans On Metro FM's Earnings

Holifil

03 Apr, 2025

South African radio icon Tbo Touch recently revealed Metro FM’s annual revenue figures.
In an interview with L-Tido’s podcast, the legendary host explained how the station rakes in its cash.
Tbo Touch also divulged his significant contribution to the station’s earnings back in 2016.

Radio star Tbo Touch breaks down how Metro FM generates income. Image: Oupa Bopape Source: Getty Images

If you thought radio stations were just about music and chit-chat, well, Tbo Touch is here to change your perspective. The charismatic South African radio personality recently dropped some serious knowledge about Metro FM, and trust me, it's a story worth hearing.

How Much Does Metro FM Really Make?

Tbo Touch, whose real name is Thabo Molefe, recently had everyone talking after spilling some tea about the financials of Metro FM during an interview on L-Tido's podcast. The star, who has been a household name in South African radio for years, revealed that Metro FM was pulling in a whopping R500 million annually. Now, here's the kicker—before he left the station in 2016, Tbo claimed he was responsible for bringing in 40% of that figure, which translates to around R200 million a year. When he stepped away, he said the station's earnings took a nosedive.

Molefe's revelations didn't stop there. He went on to explain the financial dynamics of the station during his chat with L-Tido. An online user @ThisIsColbert couldn’t help but share the video on Twitter (X), writing:

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"WHAAAT! Tbo Touch says Metro FM was making R500 million per year, and he was bringing 40% of that, about 200 & something million, EASY, one show, & when he left - it dipped."

Check out the full video below to hear Tbo's insights firsthand:

What Are People Saying?

Once the video hit social media, it didn't take long for the reactions to pour in. Here’s a glimpse of what some netizens had to say:

@Mluko4 chimed in with:

"This guy just likes to start drama nje, like he just lied nje."

@PhistoP51203 offered a more thoughtful response:

"If it is indeed the case, why didn’t his own station that took Teddy Bear off the airways in streaming didn’t work out or pull the numbers? It takes 2 to tango, and in the case of Metro, there were greats before him who built the brand: Kenny Mistry, Ernest Pillay, and Bob Mabena."

@MvukuzoSinazo asked a fundamental question:

"Can someone please explain to me like you're talking to a 5-year-old how radio stations make money?"

@kaboTheophilous wasn’t buying it:

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"He's lying."

@Andile_SS joked:

"It must be drugs. I've never even listened to his drive show."

@LeanoZAR raised an interesting point:

"If that is the case, where did he go wrong in running and sustaining his radio station when he left Metro?"

Tbo Touch Weighs In on Open Borders

In another heated discussion, Tbo Touch opened up about his stance on open borders in South Africa. According to a previous report from Briefly News, the radio presenter isn’t a fan of the idea. He believes the country isn’t ready for such conversations, as there’s still much work to be done to address local issues.

Tbo Touch’s insights into both Metro FM’s finances and the complexities of open borders show that he’s not just a radio host—he’s a thought leader with strong opinions on the state of the nation. Whether you agree or disagree, there’s no denying his influence on South Africa's media landscape.