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.