If Astro acquires Red FM and Capital FM from Star, what will the radio station become?

There is many speculation of Astro Radio Sdn Bhd had interest to acquire Red FM and Capital FM.

Red FM and Capital FM currently play non-stop music after ceased operations since 1st January 2016.

Unofficial news stated that Astro has interest to acquire Red FM and Capital FM from The Star, but acquisition dealing costs RM20millions.

Astro currently operates few satellite only radio stations such as:

- Gold (formerly was Golden Oldies and Nostalgia)
- Jazz
- India Best
- Osai
- Kenyalang
- Bayu

Astro already has its three retro radio stations in three different languages (Chinese, Malay and English), but so far no Tamil retro radio station yet.

THR Raaga is Tamil radio station like Mix FM, My FM, Era FM and Hitz FM.

In my opinion, Astro can transform Red FM and Capital FM to Osai FM, become Malaysia first Tamil retro station if acquisition is done. In addition, imagine if Astro launch Osai FM, it can compete with Minnal FM.

Minnal FM from RTM can face stiff competition from THR Raaga and Osai FM.

==Capital FM history==

Capital FM 1.0 was from 2008 till November 2011, it was independent radio station.

Capital FM 2.0 was from December 2011 till January 2016, it was acquired by Star Radio in May 2011.

Capital FM 3.0?? Acquired by Astro, then become Osai FM?

- ISY Holdings, which is the company of Capital FM will get more stable if join Astro, but sadly to hear that Malaysia loss two English radio.

Osai FM currently broadcasts only via Astro CH866 and online.

Here is the frequencies list of Osai FM if Astro acquires Red FM and Capital FM.

- 104.9MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali for Klang Valley, West Pahang and South Perak
- 98.9MHz: Gunung Ledang for Melaka and North Johor
- 92.8MHz: Gunung Pulai for South Johor and Singapore
- 106.4MHz: Gunung Kledang for Ipoh
- 107.5MHz: Bukit Larut for Taiping (ex: 107.6MHz Bukit Penara)
- 98.1MHz: Gunung Jerai for Kedah, Perlis and Penang
- 89.1MHz: Gunung Telapak Burok for Negeri Sembilan (ex: 88.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali) 

Back to 2009, Red FM already closed down its two frequencies. There are 98.2MHz Bukit Larut for Taiping, then 106.0MHz Gn Telapak Burok for Negeri Sembilan.

In my opinion, I don't think Astro will reuse FM 106.0MHz again for Osai FM in Negeri Sembilan, despite Astro acquires Capital FM 88.9 too. If 106.0MHz is reoccupied by Osai FM, 88.9MHz is nothing again.

The suitable way is modifying Capital FM 88.9MHz parameters like this:

- Frequency: 89.1MHz
- Transmitting location: Gunung Telapak Burok
- Conclusion: 88.9MHz will be blanked in Klang Valley and South Perak, but 88.8MHz can be occupied in Gunung Kledang Ipoh.

Another site is in Taiping, Osai FM can modify Capital FM 107.6MHz parameter like below here:

- Frequency: 107.5MHz
- Transmitting location: Bukit Larut

If 107.5MHz is occupied by Osai FM in Bukit Larut, Minnal FM Bukit Dedap frequency must be changed to 107.7MHz to avoid interference.

For frequency expansion, I may not think ARSB will expand Osai FM broadcast coverage in Kelantan, Terengganu and East Malaysia as no commercial value there, like what THR Raaga did. THR Raaga doesn't reach Kelantan, Terengganu, Kuantan and East Malaysia too.

Last time Astro another Chinese radio station (not My FM), Melody did not air on FM radio. Until July 2012, Melody FM broadcasted through FM radio by taking over XFM/Xfresh FM slots, Xfresh lost its revenue due to low listeners gained. In addition, Xfresh music genre is closed to Era FM, just different things. Era FM is more to mainstream, Xfresh is more to indie music.

Will Osai FM go on FM broadcast in the future? Will this happen? We don't know yet, but we need to get official news from ARSB.

Talk about the acquisition of Copyright Laureate Sdn Bhd by Media Prima, there is the formula.

==Media Prima==
Ultra FM (Klang Valley) + Pi Mai FM (Penang) = Kool FM (Malay retro station by Media Prima)

Astro acquisition on Red FM and Capital FM also can be the same way too.

==Astro Radio==
Red FM + Capital FM = Osai FM (Tamil retro station by Astro)

PS: If Astro acquire Red FM and Capital FM, I will hear Tamil old songs on FM 104.9MHz in Kuala Lumpur.