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I was told a week or so ago that e.tv group CEO Marcel Golding decided to spread some extra cheer this Christmas: e.tv staffers are apparently getting a 14th cheque this year - an extra one above the 13th cheque (which is the usual end-of-year) bonus.
But don't get too happy. The additional 14th cheque given to e.tv staffers are because there won't be a bonus 13th cheque next year. I'm told by sources that workers at the commercial free-to-air broadcaster was informed that the extra ching-ching cheer is because money will be tight next year.
Due to the commercial introduction and launch of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa from mid-2012 which will see broadcasters launch additional digital television channels, e.tv is telling personnel that the huge investment in this switch-over is going to come at a price. e.tv will have to pump a lot of money as capital expenditure into infrastructure, content cost and operations expansion next year.
I asked e.tv to please confirm the news about the 14th cheque given to e.tv staffers.
''e.tv doesn't comment on employees' salaries and benefits in the media,'' says Vasili Vass, e.tv's group head of corporate affairs.