Astro Radio
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Formerly | AMP Radio Networks (1996 - 2012) |
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Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Radio network,Broadcasting |
Predecessor | Airtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd. |
Founded |
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Defunct |
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Headquarters | All Asia Broadcast Centre, Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil,57000Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia |
Area served | |
Key people | Kenny Ong Chun Eng Chief executive officer |
Brands | |
Parent | Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad |
Website | astroradio |
Astro Radio(formerly known asAirtime Management and Programmingor simplyAMP Radio Networks) is a Malaysian radio network company which operates radio broadcasting services and more since 1996. It is a wholly owned subsidiary ofAstro Malaysia Holdings Berhad.Astro Radio owns and manages 13 private radio stations which are transmitted through theFM(frequency modulation) radio spectrum. As of November 2021, Astro Radio still remains the number one and largestradio network companyinMalaysia,with 77.7% of Peninsular Malaysians and 15.6 million listeners tuning in to its stations weekly, together with itsMedia Primacounterpart, Media Prima Audio, according to the GfK Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) Wave 1 in October 2021.[1]Era being at top of the list with the most audience reach estimated at 6,000,000 listeners, followed by Sinar and Gegar.
Company background[edit]
Astro Radio was officially launched on 1 June 1996 asAirtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd.with the very first time five opened audio only includingHitz,Mix,Light & Easy,Classic RockandTalkRadio.
Airtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd. (now AMP Radio Networks) operates eightterrestrial FMnetworks:Era FM,MY FM,Hitz FM,Mix FM,LiteFM,Sinar FM,Melody FM&THR.fm(nowTHR RaagaandTHR Gegar). AMP broadcasts in four languages with 11.5 million Malaysians tuning in weekly.
AMP is the sole provider of 19satellite radio services(which include the nineFMservices and are available to allAstrosubscribers in Malaysia and Brunei), and is the first South-East Asian broadcaster to utilise LIU (local insertion units) for local or regional advertisers and utilises Dynamic RDS (Radio Data System) as a commercial tool. Internationally, AMP also had involvement in the growth of radio industries inIndia,IndonesiaandChina.
AMP develops complementary platforms including on-air, on-ground, on-line and mobile technologies.
In 2012, as part of the expansion of its operations, AMP Radio Networks became Astro Radio Sdn. Bhd.
In October 2017, Astro Radio announced the launch of two new radio brands -goXuan FMandZayan FMintended for a new generation of listeners in the digital and social media space. Zayan is the first Malaysian radio brand for modernMuslims,andGoXuanfollows Gen Z trends. Astro Radio streams live entertainment content via its digital platforms all day.goXUANis visually-led.[2]
On 1 January 2018, Astro Radio dropped the suffix “FM”as part of the rebranding for all its 11 radio stations, to focus on digital platform and "drive talkability and social engagement".[3]
Move to Bukit Jalil[edit]
In October 2023,HITZandMYbroadcasts for Sabah and Sarawak were completely stopped by Astro Radio and were later returned to Bukit Jalil.[4][5]
In January 2024,ERA SabahandERA Sarawakofficially started broadcasting from Bukit Jalil.[6]
Other brands[edit]
Raku[edit]
Astro Radio launched a radio andmusic streaming serviceplatform known asRakuand thenDVR Playerin April 2015 through mobile and web. Raku is a short-form forRadio Aku(‘My Radio’ inMalay). Through Raku, Malaysians can stream millions of songs, videos and playlists curated by top local artistes includingYuna,Paper Plane Pursuit,Dasha Loganand many more. Users can also listen to more than 20 live radio stations through the free and premium versions of Raku. The application also provides local community updates such as articles, news, traffic, and sports. Raku is available inEnglish,Malay,MandarinandTamil.However, Raku services were rebranded into the newSyokplatform in 2019.[7]
Syok[edit]
Astro Radio launched a multilingualentertainmentandlifestyleplatform known asSyok,stylised asSYOKin July 2019. The platform can allow users to listen to 26 Astro Radio brands (including online-only stations orDirect-To-Home[DTH] stations that are available onAstro TV,and East Malaysian stations) via live online streaming, listen topodcastsof all live radio and exclusive content, watch original short-form videos, read current articles, news and traffic updates and participate in contests.[8][9]
- Era
- Era Sabah
- Era Sarawak
- Sinar
- Gegar
- Zayan
- My
- Melody
- GoXuan
- Hitz
- Mix
- Lite
- Raaga
- Syok Original Radio
- Bayu
- Gold
- India Beat
- Jazz
- Kenyalang
- Opus
- Osai
- Classic Rock
- News, Sports & Talk (Online only)
Syokalso offered pop-up stations, featuring tracks for some occasions, such asPublic holidays in Malaysia.In addition, they also provide Featured Radio, which include partnered radio stations such as Red Radio (in partnership withAirAsia),Rakita,AFO RADIO,andABS-CBN Corporation(TeleRadyo,MOR EntertainmentandMyxRadio).
Stations[edit]
Station | Explanation | Language | Year of Launch | Astro Channel |
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Hitz | The latest English songs, focused on younger listeners. Rebranded, with a dot, in 2001. One of the first radio channels by AMP to be launched in 1996. | English | 1996 | 852 |
Lite | The oldest and latest songs for mature listeners. It was previously known as Light & Easy. One of the first radio channels by AMP to be launched in 1996. | English | 1996 | 854→ |
Mix | The station plays adult contemporary music from the 90s and now, targeting listeners between the ages of 25 and 39. | English | 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1997 (as an FM radio station) | 855 |
Era | The latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on younger listeners. This radio station is the first private radio station, to be broadcast completely in Malay, after being dominated by government-owned radio station for years. | Malay | 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station) | 856 |
My | Chinese songs for all ages. Formerly known as Chuan Zhen Xin Qu Tai ( vẽ truyền thần nội tâm đài ) during the early years of broadcast. | Chinese | 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station) | 853 |
Sinar | The oldest and latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on mature listeners. Formerly known as Wirama Melayu during the early years of broadcast. | Malay | 1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 2004 (as an FM radio station) | 857 |
Gegar | A Malay-language radio station targeting the East Coast area. | Malay | 1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition) | 863 |
Raaga | Astro Radio's only Tamil-language radio station, targeting the West Coast area. | Tamil | 1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition) | 859 |
Melody | The oldest and latest songs, focused on mature listeners. | Chinese | 1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 2012 (as an FM radio station) | 858 |
Go Xuan | The latest songs and digital-first Chinese entertainment, focused on young listeners. | Chinese | 2017 | 877 |
Zayan | The latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on modern and contemporary Muslim listeners. | Malay | 2017 | 876 |
Defunct radio stations[edit]
AMP changed its line-up, swapping two of its English FM brands, namely Classic Rock and TalkRadio, for ERA FM (Bahasa Malaysia) and MY FM (Chinese), respectively. Melody FM was launched on 15 August 2012 to replace XFM on FM and Astro.
Station | Explanation | Language | Year of Launch |
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Classic Rock | The oldest and latest songs from rock music. However, it continues to be broadcast on Astro and via online only. | English | 1997 |
TalkRadio | News and talk radio show; ceased broadcasting in 1998 | English | 1997 |
XFM | Songs from Malaysian artists only, focused on younger listeners. However, it continues to be broadcast as an online station before ceased broadcasting in 2017 | Malay | 2004 |
Hitz Sabah | This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by Hitz. | English | 2010 |
Hitz Sarawak | This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by Hitz. | English | 2010 |
My Sabah | This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by My. | Mandarin | 2010 |
My Sarawak | This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by My. | Mandarin | 2010 |
References[edit]
- ^"Post Survey 2021 S1 | Astro Radio".astroradio.my.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^"Astro Radio launches two new brands for its 15.4 million weekly listeners".RadioInfo Asia.1 October 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2021.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^"Astro Radio refreshes 11 brands".RadioInfo Asia.3 January 2018.
- ^Tan, Yu Ang (3 October 2023)."Astro Radio Ceases Operation In Sabah & Sarawak, All Staff Given Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS)".WeirdKaya.
- ^Jefri, Najiy (3 October 2023)."Hitz FM, MY FM henti operasi berpangkalan di Sabah".Harian Metro(in Malay).
- ^Aizad, Syazwan (9 January 2024)."ERA Sabah dan ERA Sarawak Perkenal Barisan Personaliti, Segmen Baru".Syok(in Malay).
- ^"RAKU, a music & radio streaming mobile app from Astro".MalaysianWireless.17 April 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 22 April 2015.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^"Astro Radio introduces SYOK app, Everything Got!".Marketing Magazine.3 July 2019.Retrieved28 August2019.
- ^"Syok Official website".