Singapore Lush FM 99.5MHz will cease transmission

 

Mediacorp will cease the transmission of Lush FM 99.5MHz on 31th August 2017 2359 hours as as part of a rationalisation of its network of radio stations.

Last year 2016, Mediacorp already stopped transmission of XFM 96.3MHz due to low listenership. It seems like Mediacorp is moving more to business implications.

Before launching of Lush FM 99.5MHz, the frequency was used by Passion FM, but both are Singapore's indie radio stations.

Previously Mediacorp had ceased its low ratings radio stations transmission, such as TV Mobile 89.3MHz in 2010, and XFM 96.3MHz in October 2016, but now it is Lush FM 99.5MHz, Lush FM music playlist will be merged into 938 LIVE and 987FM.

Will Mediacorp cease Symphony 92.4 next? If I answer, I will say "NO" as Symphony 92.4MHz was established long time ago, since 1936. Symphony 92.4 was formerly known as Singapore Radio Network 5.

Former Mediacorp radio frequencies 89.3MHz and 96.3MHz are now occupied by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), they will launch a English business radio station and a Chinese senior listeners targeted radio station. After Mediacorp 89.3MHz and 96.3MHz ceased transmission, both of the radio stations frequencies had nothing, it stated that 89.3MHz and 96.3MHz are returned to MDA. In this view, I understand that Mediacorp is privatized Singapore public radio, but Mediacorp both radio stations do not hold Content Applications Service Provider (CASP) licenses.. If they hold CASP licenses, they can sell their studio equipment and stations to other parties while both stations are played in autopilot mode, just like Red FM and Capital FM Malaysia.

After Lush FM 99.5MHz stops transmission on 01.09.2017 at 0000hours, the frequency 99.5MHz will be empty and it will be returned to Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore. Next, MDA can open tender publicly for new radio station on FM 99.5MHz.

Talk about Johor Bahru radio stations, the frequency there is very full, even 107.9MHz cannot be used there as occupied by airband. I never think FM 99.5MHz will be given to Malaysia Johor Bahru radio station because FM 99.5MHz is fully belonged to Singapore.

Although if 99.5MHz is given to Gunung Pulai radio station, I don't think MCMC will give greenlight because it may cause co-channel interference with Hot FM 99.5MHz Gunung Telapak Burok in Central and North Johor.

Will 99.5MHz still belong to Mediacorp? Or fall to other Singapore radio group? That's unknown, we need to get the headlines from MDA and which radio station will be awarded by MDA on 99.5MHz in the future.... That will be the future stories.

In my opinion, seriously Singapore indie music could be discriminated after Lush FM 99.5MHz is ceased transmission. For my suggestion, Lush FM 99.5MHz music shall be merged into 938 LIVE as non-peak hours segment or music playlist, means that 938 LIVE plays Singapore indie music while airing news and talk programmes. Even 938 LIVE can play Lush FM 99.5MHz music content as weekend supplements.  

Kota Bharu radio sites

In Kota Bharu, a state capital of Kelantan, the radio transmitter sites are variable. Different radio stations in Kota Bharu have different transmitter sites, this can mean that the towers are owned by broadcasters at the same time.

- Peringat is belonged to Media Prima, which operates TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, one FM, Kool FM, Hot FM and Fly FM. Currently only One FM and 8TV (analogue only) are not available in Kota Bharu due to no commercial value.

- Bukit Panau is likely owned by Astro, but IKIM FM also transmits there.

- Telipot is not owned by anyone, but occupied by Suria FM from Star Radio Group, TV Alhijrah and upcoming FM 91.4MHz. RTM formerly used Telipot for their Kota Bharu TV and radio channels.

- KBX Tunjung is owned by CELCOM, but operated by Manis FM 90.6MHz

- In Wakaf Che Yeh, RTM has its own tower at its Kota Bharu studios. All RTM Kota Bharu stations are transmitted there, but technically it is called as "Stesen Pemancar RTM Kota Bharu" (generally known as Wakaf Che Yeh).

- Bukit Bakar is not transmitter site for Kota Bharu, it is mainly intending to cover Machang and Central Kelantan areas. Not all Kota Bharu areas can receive from Bukit Bakar. Actually RTM and TV3 are the broadcasters to operate there.

In conclusion, there has no a very strategic transmitter site in Kota Bharu, Kelantan like other states such as Kedah, where there has Gunung Jerai can cover Kedah, Perlis, Penang, North Perak and some Thailand areas.

My suggestion about City Plus FM Klang Valley frequency

Currently City Plus FM is transmitted from Gunung Telapak Burok on FM 106.0MHz, which was formerly carried by Red FM.

In Klang Valley, the reception is not really clear, some of areas have no signal. The main reason why CityPlus FM locates in Gunung Telapak Burok is the main site Gunung Ulu Kali tower is full, but the only way to solve the problem is City Plus FM needs to migrate to Ulu Kali by changing frequency with 100kHz step above, but all analogue TV transmitter boxes must remove from Ulu Kali as there is already having myFreeView digital TV transmitter, as result of closing analogue TV transmission.

The main reason why do I suggest City Plus FM to change frequency when moving to Ulu Kali.

Reason: Current FM 106.0MHz has 300kHz separation with Lite FM 105.7MHz Gunung Ulu Kali. If City Plus FM uses 106.0MHz in Ulu Kali, it can cause unwanted interference as it is too closed. If both radio stations runs at the same site within same coverage, the minimum frequency separation must be at least 400kHz.

So here is my suggestion regarding City Plus FM Klang Valley frequency

Frequency: FM 106.1MHz
Power: 2kW
Transmitter site: Gunung Ulu Kali, Pahang

==RF analysis==

106.1MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.1MHz: Ai FM Bukit Pelindung
<0kHz, OK>

106.1MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.1MHz: Ai FM Bukit Larut
<0kHz, OK>

105.7MHz: Lite FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.1MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Ulu Kali
<400kHz, OK>

106.1MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.4MHz: MY FM Gunung Ledang
<300kHz, OK>

106.1MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.4MHz: Astro Gunung Kledang test transmission
<300kHz, OK>

Kool FM Perak frequency (PART 1)

In Perak, Kool FM is only available on FM 90.2MHz from Bukit Penara Penang in Parit Buntar, Bagan Serai, Semanggol, Selama, and Taiping, but not all areas can receive the station clearly. Meanwhile FM 101.3MHz from Bukit Sungai Besi is still receivable in Tanjung Malim, but not clear.

Unfortunately, Kool FM is still not able to reach Gunung Ulu Kali as tower capacity is full. The only way is waiting all analogue TV to remove their transmitters.

For Perak, Kool FM is not available in Ipoh, and Central Perak. In addition, Ipoh FM frequency is not available. Even there are possible frequencies which likely can be used there.

93.3MHz, 93.9MHz and 94.9MHz.

All of them are not suitable to be used due to many reasons.

- FM 93.3MHz
Reason 1: 300kHz to Hitz FM 93.6MHz Bukit Larut. Not recommended.
Reason 2: If City Plus FM reaches Penang by using Bukit Larut site, FM 93.1MHz is only suitable ones, but if 93.3MHz is used in Gunung Kledang, it can cause 200kHz interference with City Plus FM.

- FM 93.9MHz
Reason: If Bernama Radio migrates its Klang Valley 93.9MHz transmitter site from Kuala Lumpur Tower to Gunung Ulu Kali for wider coverage, it will cause serious co-channel interference between 93.9MHz Gunung Kledang and 93.9MHz Ulu Kali. 988 FM 98.8MHz Gunung Ulu Kali is an example, serious interference with Minnal FM Gunung Kledang 98.9MHz in South Perak.

- FM 94.9MHz
Reason: Cause co-channel interference with Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz around Kedah, even co-channel interference can be happened in Manjung Perak. Minimum frequency separation between Kledang and Jerai is 100kHz.

In my opinion, if Kool FM wants to reach Perak (mainly Ipoh), the only way is to launch a transmitter in Bukit Larut Taiping to cover Ipoh temporarily. For the frequency, only FM 105.7MHz is available. To cover Ipoh from Bukit Larut, the antenna shall beam to east direction, but I don't think all Ipoh areas can receive Kool FM 105.7MHz from Bukit Larut. Due to FM 105.7MHz Bukit Larut co-channel with Kedah FM 105.7MHz, the transmitter antenna shall not beam to north direction to avoid interference.

With launching Bukit Larut frequency 105.7MHz, it does not mean that all Perak areas can receive Kool FM because Bukit Larut is mainly intended for Taiping Perak. Other Central Perak areas may not receive Kool FM 105.7MHz Bukit Larut because co-channel interference with Lite FM 105.7MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.

Besides that, for Central Ipoh areas, only Ipoh, Simpang Pulai, Kampar and Gopeng can receive from Bukit Larut, but not clear as Gunung Kledang. Meanwhile Tapah, Teluk Intan, Lumut, Sitiawan, Kampung Gajah, Bidor, Sungkai, Pangkor, Ayer Tawar cannot receive Kool FM 105.7MHz Bukit Larut, instead FM 105.7MHz is Lite FM in these areas.

Kool FM listeners in Taiping does not need to tune FM 90.2MHz which hear 300kHz interference with Hot FM 90.5MHz Bukit Larut, just 105.7MHz Bukit Larut if launch there. Kuala Kangsar, Padang Rengas, Sauk, and Lenggong are available.