In Malaysia, most of Chinese radio stations are broadcasting in Mandarin and Cantonese such as 988, My FM, Melody FM and One FM, meanwhile City Plus FM, goXUAN, Tea FM and Ai FM are fully broadcasting in Mandarin.
My FM also launches Hakka programme in Sabah where Hakka is the majority Chinese ancient, the response is quite good.
988, MY FM, Melody FM and one FM have Cantonse programs, meanwhile MY FM Sabah has Hakka programs. How about Hokkien programs on Chinese radio station, perhaps Hokkien is majority Chinese ancient in Malaysia?
Actually One FM and Melody FM were used to launch Hokkien programs before. First, one FM launched Hokkien "Happy Dedication" on Sunday 4pm on December 2011, but axed on April 2012 due to termination of DJ Lim Ching Miau for taking part Bersih 3.0 Rally. Then, Melody FM also had Hokkien program on weekdays from 4pm till 8pm, but the program was heavily restricted for Northern Malaysia only via FM 106.5MHz. Although it received positive feedback from Penang people, but it also received criticism, especially from the listeners who were listening to Phoebe evening show all the time because Phoebe show was axed on FM 106.5MHz after launching Hokkien programs. So, this forced Phoebe's listeners in Penang/Kedah to continue listen to her show via online or Taiping frequency FM 104.9MHz. At last, Melody FM's Hokkien program was axed, may be caused by low commercial driven. Since November 2014, Melody FM Hokkien slot was switched back to normal slot as nationwide.
The most majority demography of Hokkien Chinese is in Penang and Kedah, following by west Selangor, Tampin Negeri Sembilan and Northern Johor. RTM has full-fledged Mandarin radio service Ai FM to cover nationwide.
Chinese is considered majority race in Penang, especially Penang Island (except Balik Pulau) and Seberang Perai (except North Sbg Perai). Penang Chinese is majority Hokkien, but Hakka and Cantonese are minority ancient.
Due to failure of Hokkien programs on existing Chinese radio station, in my opinion, it is better to launch Hokkien programs on state/regional radio station, rather than nationwide radio station because state/regional radio station has its own good direction to target their listeners.
Now, I talk about a RTM Penang radio station, that's Mutiara FM. This radio station currently broadcasts in Malay language, 18 hours broadcasting are from RTM Penang studio, rest of 6 hours relay Nasional FM. To me, due to Chinese (Hokkien) is majority race in Penang, I think Mutiara FM shall be repositioned by launching Hokkien language service, alongside with current Malay service, but there are two hypothesis:
- 1st suggestion. Mutiara FM can launch Hokkien and Mandarin service at 50% (45% Hokkien and 5% Mandarin), but Malay service remains from 12pm till 9pm. So, Mutiara FM becomes trilingual radio station in Penang
* To me, the suggestion above is not logic and effective as Malaysian listeners don't really like to listen multi-language radio station. Formerly Time Highway Radio launched Chinese programs with Tamil, Malay and English, but short lived ever and axed down, left only Malay and Tamil
- 2nd suggestion, currently Mutiara FM operates with 3 frequencies. FM 95.7MHz Bukit Penara for northeast Penang Island, Seberang Perai and North Perak areas, FM 93.9MHz Gunung Jerai for Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang, and FM 90.9MHz Bukit Genting for Balik Pulau.
* Mutiara FM can split into two programs by dividing into their freqeuncies.
FM 95.7MHz Bukit Penara coverage are Chinese majority areas, Mutiara FM can launch Hokkien and Mandarin service on FM 95.7MHz to target Penang Chinese. So, the radio station can provide Penang information, local entertainment and news in Mandarin and Hokkien, even Teochew and Hakka can be considered.
With this suggestion, Mutiara FM has two radio station. First is Malay (93.9MHz, 90.9MHz), and second is Mandarin and Hokkien (95.7MHz).
For Hokkien and Mandarin service, I don't think it is necessary to launch another transmitter yet as Balik Pulau is Hakka Chinese area, FM 95.7MHz can be received there partially. For Batu Feringghi where cannot get FM 95.7MHz, I may think Mutiara FM Hokkien-Mandarin service can launch low power repeater in TM Batu Feringghi with same frequency.
When Mutiara FM launches Hokkien-Mandarin service, Penang Chinese has another choice, the radio station will be more localized. In addition, this may increase listenership of Mutiara FM if the programming is good enough. RTM Penang building needs to create another studio for Mutiara FM Mandarin-Hokkien service.
Penang Chinese can tune to FM 95.7MHz to listen Hokkien programs and Penang Mandarin service, can hear Hokkien songs on radio.
18 hours of Penang local programs in Hokkien (55%), Mandarin (45%) on FM 95.7MHz, rest of hours from 0000-0600 either automation from RTM Pulau Pinang Mutiara FM Hokkien studio, or relay from Ai FM.
That's the best suggested Hokkien radio program names.
- "Lu Ho? Penang"
- "Tsin Zhuu Shinn Bun"
- "Ho Kang Tau @ Mutiara FM 95.7"
- "Lu chiak bao beh" (food program)
- Hokkien Ho Gua @ Mutiara FM
- Jalan-jalan @ Tsin Zhuu
I wish RTM Mutiara FM will be repositioned by launching Hokkien-Mandarin services (by splitting into two service with different frequency).
Recently I have performed some bandscans in Penang, such as Air Itam and Balik Pulau. However 90.9MHz has disappeared from the dial. 88.5,92.1,93,9,98.9,101.7 & 102.7MHz from Bukit Genting is transmitted as usual. 91.0MHz mix from Gunung Jerai is heard clearly in Balik Pulau,even in Teluk Kombar, where its signal was often superseded by 90.9MHz Mutiara FM. Maybe the committee has realised that 90.9 and 91.0MHz makes heavy interference in west Penang, therefore suspends 90.9MHz. However 93.9MHz from lower Gunung Jerai and Bukit Genting still causes heavy interference in areas such as Air Itam. Actually 95.7 from Bukit Penara is heard clearly throughout the whole Penang, therefore 90.9 from Bukit Genting should be pernamently cancelled. However the problem of 93.9MHz still remains unsolved.
ReplyDeleteactually if Mutiara FM wants to keep Bukit Genting frequency, they can use 100.7MHz.
DeleteNasional FM Bukit Genting can change to 94.1MHz actually
Deletewhile mix 91.0 was superseded by Mutiara FM 90.9 in Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar, Mix can be tuned via 91.3 from Bukit Larut
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