Does THR Gegar need to expand to other Pahang areas after Kuantan? Yes or no?

THR Gegar is a Malay language east coast radio station under Astro Radio where I was used to suggest regarding the coverage expansion of inner location in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu. In Pahang, THR Gegar operates on FM 88.8MHz for Kuantan and East Pahang from Bukit Pelindung.

In the past, I suggested Astro to expand THR Gegar coverage in other Pahang areas such as Maran, Jerantut, Raub, Lipis and Bentong because these areas cannot receive on FM 88.8MHz. Here is my suggestion that I made in 2016 and 2017:

- FM 100.7MHz or FM 104.4MHz Bukit Senggora for Maran, Chenor and Jengka
- FM 100.7MHz Bukit Istana for Jerantut
- FM 90.7MHz Bukit Fraser for Raub, Lipis, Temerloh and Bentong

I was told by Astro that they have no plan to expand coverage there as no commercial value.

Now I'm thinking back what I did before, I don't think it is worth to expand Gegar coverage to other Pahang areas, even Kelantan Gua Musang, not only commercial value factor. The different timing between Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan is another factor.

In Kelantan and Terengganu, the working days are from Sunday till Thursday, but Friday and Saturday are the weekend of these two states. Meanwhile Pahang is same as Kuala Lumpur and international, Monday till Friday is Pahang working days, then Saturday and Sunday are weekend for Pahang.

According to radio listenership of Gegar, Kelantan is the highest listenership, following by Terengganu and Pahang. The main market of Gegar is Kelantan and Terengganu, so the radio station weekdays schedule is from Sunday to Thursday, based on Kelantan and Terengganu day frame, meanwhile Gegar weekend show is on Friday and Saturday.

In my opinion, I think Gegar Kuantan frequency FM 88.8MHz is just "penumpang" (by-pass occupant) as 88.8MHz also targets South Terengganu areas such as Kemaman, Kijal, Chukai, Felda Cheneh, Jabor etc. Seriously, Bukit Pelindung FM 88.8MHz is very important also for Gegar, especially Southern Terengganu.

Imagine if Gegar has no Kuantan frequency, I think Southern Terengganu listeners cannot access the radio station via radio. I even don't think Astro can launch Kemaman frequency for Gegar in Bukit Kemuning as lower commercial value, compare to Bukit Pelindung. Bukit Kemuning coverage is not wide as Bukit Pelindung.

Bukit Pelindung does not only cover East Pahang (Kuantan, Pekan and Gambang), it also covers Southern Terengganu.

Pahang is the biggest state in Peninsular Malaysia. Generally Pahang is classified as east coast region, but some of areas are not classified as east coast areas where closed to west coast states border or very far away from Kuantan and Pekan. "Permata Pantai Timur" (Jewellery of East Coast) is the tagline of Gegar, technically "Pantai Timur" of Pahang is Kuantan and Pekan. Fraser Hill, Cameron Highlands, Bentong, Genting, Raub, and Bera are not considered as "Pahang Timur" in terms of geographical condition.

Even I don't think Gegar to expand coverage in South-east Pahang to cover Rompin and Tioman by launching transmitter in Kuala Rompin because Pahang working day and weekend are not same as Gegar schedule where are more on Terengganu and Kelantan.

In conclusion, I don't think it is a needed to expand coverage to other Pahang areas for Gegar due to local conditions. The behind reason is Pahang day frame is not match to Gegar broadcast schedule, even listener rating in Pahang is far behind Terengganu and Kelantan, but listeners can access Gegar via online, Astro DVR CH863 and mobile app.