This was South Africa’s, and possibly the world’s, first truly mobile radio broadcast, where two of the country’s biggest national commercial radio stations broadcast seamlessly together, often crossing over and swapping mics, in the midst of Johannesburg traffic.
The DJs brought their avid listeners along on an epic adventure into the traffic of Parkhurst, Johannesburg, to follow their representing contestants from one challenge to the next. If you were (un)lucky enough, you might have even been one of the few terrorised in their cars while on their way back from work.
The event was an offshoot of a national Savanna campaign to see who’s got apples. Dodgy Uncle Rodgy and #HouseofFlava presenter each backed their handpicked contestant to show who had the apples to fast-track their entry as one of the 10 finalists to compete at the Grande Finale on Saturday, 19 November. The competition, which is still open to the public, is to win a Million Buck trip for them and three friends to the Big Apple.
Banter On-The-Go
Until now, ‘mobile’ radio banter campaigns have only ever been broadcast from a pop-up radio booth powered by a fixed line. Savanna, however, tossed the limits out the window and brought in RadioHeads (Pty) Ltd, a programming and content marketing integrations strategies company, who had the technology for these radio DJs to go truly wireless. Inputs and monitoring were delivered by high-quality wireless mics and in-ear monitoring for the presenters and show producers to communicate over the length and breadth of Johannesburg, whatever happened. This gave Roger Goode and Mo Flava the apples to broadcast from the same place, at the same time, whilst in the midst of Parkhurst traffic.
Did they have the Apples to take on the Big Apple?
Lesedi Motloung, a hulking young man hailing from Soweto, was chosen by Metro FM to take on the challenge. He believed he had the apples to kill 102 pushups in six minutes. Yes, you read correct. He showed signs of struggle at around number 60, but he finished off his 102 push-ups at a speedy four minutes.
Drummond Irvine-Fortescue, a brave man from Midrand, fancied lathering himself in syrup, putting on a yellow tutu skirt, pouring chicken feathers and flour all over himself and walking through the traffic. 5fm thought he had the apples to do it, and they weren’t wrong. With a cage fighter look fixed firmly on his face and a Savanna in his hand, Irvine-Fortescue was smothered in syrup and well-feathered. A hot mess, indeed. Spurred on by his sisters via a Facebook Live feed, unlucky viewers even got to witness a downward chicken pose. There was no doubt, this man has apples.
Did the DJs get in on the action?
Other than performing a South African first in radio broadcasting, when the contestants reached the inevitable stalemate, Goode and Mo Flava both had to take one for their teams. Until that moment, they had no clue what they needed the apples for, and you could tell they were a little nervous when they consulted one of the adjudicators about what revenge their listeners had chosen for all the mischief they had caused on air. Both teams had the same Savanna competition puzzle they needed to complete in order to avoid an apple pie in the face. It was a tight race to the end, and both radio DJs and their contestants seemed rather challenged.
So who had the apples, dammit?
Only seconds and one puzzle piece apart, Mo Flava and Motloung of Metro FM finished off their puzzle first, smirking at the prospect of throwing apple pie in their opponent’s faces. To be fair, Goode and Irvine-Fortescue took the pies in the face like true men with apples, too.
They’ve got apples. Do you?
Entries are still open until Monday, 31 October 2016 to stand a chance to win a trip to the Big Apple for you and three friends. Just purchase any 330ml or 500ml of Savanna Dry, Savanna Light or Savanna Dark, dial *120*1538#, enter the unique code found in the cap underliner and follow the prompts to automatically be entered into the competition draw. T&Cs apply.
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