Astro launches 4th Malay radio station Zayan by using former Red FM frequencies

Red FM was closed down since 31st December 2015 and it began autopilot until 30th December 2016 when it was acquired by Astro from Star Media Group.

Since 30th December 2016, all Red FM frequencies were playing jazz music, while Capital FM was playing classic rock music. Everyone thought Astro will launch its satellite radio station Jazz on FM radio, actually it was only tested transmission without proper rebranding direction.

On 18th September 2017, former Red FM frequencies suddenly had big changes, it played Malay songs, but not the crappy mainstream ones like what we heard many times. Red FM frequencies were playing Islamic oriented and positively motivated songs.

This station is known as "ZAYAN", derived from Arabic words, means beautiful. Its slogan is #indahdihati, means beautiful is in the heart. In addition, the theme colour of ZAYAN FM is purple, same as Hitz FM, but Zayan FM purple is lighter.

ZAYAN FM targets 18-35 listeners who seek for positive or motivation content, it is considered as "Contemporary Muslim radio station". In my opinion, I don't think Zayan FM fully intends to compete with IKIM FM (a Malaysia Islamic radio station by IKIM) and SALAM FM (Jakim) because Ikim FM and Salam FM targets different Muslim listeners. I may think that the terms "contemporary Muslim radio station" is likely having same meaning, "progressive or modern Muslim radio station".

Zayan FM is considered as "Islamic commercial radio station", but IKIM FM is "semi-commercial and semi-public Islamic radio station" and Salam FM is fully government Islamic radio station, which is owned by JAKIM (broadcast on Asyik FM frequencies at night time).

ZAYAN FM is Astro 4th Malay radio stations, alongside with Era, Sinar and THR Gegar, but THR Gegar is only for East Coast.

While Astro launches ZAYAN on 2nd October 2017 together with goXUAN (Chinese version of Hitz FM), Astro could boost its market revenue for these radio stations.

About its frequencies, ZAYAN is using Red FM frequencies, but I may believe that it would be expanded to Terengganu, Kelantan and Seremban where Red FM did not reach.

For Zayan's Seremban frequency, in my opinion, because its former Red FM had Seremban frequency on 106.0MHz, but Red FM closed down 106.0MHz since June 2009 and now the frequency is occupied by City Plus FM since October 2016 for trial transmission, then official on May 2017.

If Red FM did not switch off Seremban frequency 106.0Mhz until 31th December 2015, I think Zayan already use 106.0MHz. In addition, for now, I don't think Zayan will launch Seremban frequency by using Gunung Telapak Burok as no available frequencies there, except 102.1MHz. Therefore, Zayan may need to use Bukit Gan for Seremban.

Zayan need to be received either 104.9 or 98.9 in Negeri Sembilan for temporary moment, but Zayan can be received in Penang and North Perak on 98.1MHz.

Taiping will be the controversial area, 105.7MHz is the only remaining frequency.

Anyway, Zayan is set to be launched officially on 2nd October 2017.