Asyik FM and Radio Klasik expand on MYTV myFreeview platform

On 30th December 2018, RTM had expanded two nationwide radio stations on MYTV digital terrestrial television platform (myFreeview), since 2300 hours, alongside RTM News HD.

Before Radio Klasik and Asyik FM are available on MYTV platform, there had only 4 RTM radio stations on MYTV such as Nasional FM, Ai FM, Traxx FM and Minnal FM.

In my opinion, RTM had a very good initiative to expand both on MYTV platform, especially Asyik FM. Before Asyik FM is available on MYTV platform, neglect its availability on Astro CH875 and RTM myKlik mobile app, Asyik FM had limited coverage on FM radio platform. In addition, Asyik FM does not broadcast nationwide as other RTM radio stations.

Good move on RTM. With MYTV platform, Orang Asli who stay outside of Asyik FM existing frequencies coverage can listen to Asyik FM via MYTV DTTV platform, they can buy MYTV set-top-box, UHF antenna, a TV and 1 HiFi with AUX function. They can plug RCA red and white cables from MYTV set-top-box to HiFi RCA jack, meanwhile yellow RCA cable is plugged from MYTV set-top-box to TV yellow video RCA jack.

Although RTM has launched Asyik FM on MYTV platform, but to me, RTM still needs to expand Asyik FM coverage on FM radio where I suggested before such as:

* 107.7MHz Changkat Rembian (Central-South Perak)

* 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan (East Pahang)

* 105.5MHz Bukit Kayu Ara (Kuala Pilah, Tanjung Ipoh, Johol, Batu Kikir)

* 107.5MHz Sungai Siput (U)

* 102.2MHz Batu 18 Hulu Langat (for Hulu Langat, but optional)

For channel numbering of both radio stations on MYTV platform, Radio Klasik is on CH705, meanwhile Asyik FM is on CH706.

Congratulations to RTM for expanding Asyik FM and Radio Klasik on MYTV.

Gegar FM West Pahang coverage expansion review and personal suggestion

Gegar (formerly known as THR Gegar) is Malay radio station by Astro Radio Sdn Bhd to target east coast listeners in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

Currently Gegar has three frequencies, FM 88.1MHz for Kota Bharu from Bukit Panau, FM 106.8MHz for Kuala Terengganu from Bukit Jerung and FM 88.8MHz for Kuantan and East Pahang from Bukit Pelindung.

For Pahang areas, Gegar FM 88.8MHz Bukit Pelindung is only accessible in Kuantan, Gambang and Pekan, rest of Pahang areas cannot receive this radio station. Listeners within Pahang, but outside of East Pahang needs to tune via Astro CH863 and online in order to continue listening to Gegar.

Internet infrastructure is not completed and perfect yet in Malaysia, some of areas are only available in 3.5G or 3G, so Gegar listeners are not able to listen via online and mobile app due to unstable internet connectivity if they're outdoor. In addition, listening online may consume more data, this cause listeners to pay more on mobile data cost.

At the same time, I noticed the rival of Gegar, named Manis FM had expanded coverage to Central Pahang on FM 103.8MHz from Bukit Senggora to cover Maran, Temerloh, Jerantut and Bera, so Manis FM coverage expansion movement will make Gegar to "feel threatened" much since Gegar is not receivable in Central Pahang. Actually Gegar is still able to counterattack against Manis FM for coverage expansion, to make perfect and stiffer competition of East Coast radio station.

Because West Pahang cannot receive Gegar on radio, plus its sister radio station Raaga where broadcasts in Tamil already broadcasts in Gunung Ulu Kali, then there is also no available frequency there, therefore Gegar is not able to expand coverage to West Pahang by locating transmitter in Gunung Ulu Kali. Moreover, I did notice there are many people listening to Gegar via Astro CH863 in West Pahang, so a frequency exclusive for West Pahang is needed.

In my opinion, Gegar still can expand its coverage to West Pahang, but in new site, called as Fraser's Hill at least Gegar still can cover Bentong, Karak, Lanchang, Bera, Temerloh, Raub, Lipis, Benta and Chenor from Fraser's Hill, despite it is not wide as Gunung Ulu Kali.

Buki Istana and Bukit Senggora were used to become my research sites for Gegar personally, but I don't think they have commercial value for this radio station. Between Fraser's Hill, Bukit Istana and Bukit Senggora, Fraser's Hill has better commercial value and wider coverage than Bukit Istana and Bukit Senggora. Therfore, Fraser's Hill is suitable site for Gegar to expand in West Pahang.

As today, Fraser's Hill has four RTM radio stations such as Nasional FM 106.2, Pahang FM 102.2, Ai FM 97.1 and Radio Klasik 90.9 which operated since 2017/18 with transmission power not exceed than 0.2kW, these four radio stations mainly covered blind spot areas within Raub and Lipis, but they can still be receivable in Lanchang, Mentakab, Temerloh, Bera and Karak with weaker reception. For TV, Fraser's Hill has only TV1, TV2 and TV3 for analogue transmission, meanwhile digital terrestrial television MYTV will be available in Fraser's Hill by January 2019.

==Empty frequencies in Fraser's Hill==

* 89.4MHz, 91.9MHz, 92.4MHz, 93.5MHz, 104.4MHz, 107.9MHz 

==My suggestion regarding Gegar coverage expansion to West Pahang==
* Frequency: FM 92.4MHz
* Power: 1kW
* Transmission site: Fraser's Hill, Pahang
* Coverage: Raub, Kuala Lipis, Benta, Mentakab, Lanchang, Bentong, Temerloh, Bandar Bera, Kuala Krau, Teriang serta Kemayan. Other than West Pahang, Gegar may be able to be received in selected Selangor areas with weaker reception

== RF Analysis==

92.3MHz: Minnal FM Menara Kuala Lumpur
92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<100kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.4MHz: Hot FM Bukit Pelindung
<0kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.6MHz: Negeri FM Gunung Telapak Burok
<200kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.7MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Istana
<300kHz, OK>

92.2MHz: Lite Gunung Ledang
92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<200kHz, OK> 

According to the coverage map of Gegar Fraser's Hill frequency FM 92.4MHz, the transmission will not give listeners' impact to Minnal FM 92.3MHz from KL Tower and other existing radio stations. Minnal FM's listeners in affected areas can tune to FM 96.3MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali loudly and clearly if 92.3MHz is interfered by Gegar FM 92.4MHz in Rawang, Serendah, Batang Kali and Kuala Kubu Bharu, meanwhile these affected Selangor areas are not main coverage of Gegar FM 92.4MHz Fraser's Hill.

If one day Astro Radio decides to expand Gegar coverage to West Pahang by transmitting from Fraser's Hill (suggested: 92.4MHz), its listeners can tune to Gegar loudly and clearly in West Pahang through the radio wave. In addition, this suggestion will also target listeners mobility, for Gegar listeners (from east coast who work in Klang Valley) who travel from Kuala Lumpur to East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia for "balik kampung" during festival or other functions, they can listen to Gegar on radio, beginning from Bentong.

First example, if Gegar listener, named Abang Arif travels from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu to visit his relatives, he can listen to Gegar from Bentong till Kuala Lipis on FM 92.4MHz Fraser's Hill.

Second example, if Gegar listeners, named Cik Aisyah goes from Gombak to Kuantan or Terengganu, she can listen to Gegar on FM 92.4MHz Fraser's Hill from Bentong after Bukit Tinggi till Chenor via East Coast Expressway (LPT). If Astro expands again for Gegar coverage in Central Pahang by putting transmitter in Bukit Senggora (example frequency: FM 102.0MHz), she can tune to FM 102.0MHz from Chenor till Sri Jaya to listen to Gegar. After that, when she leaves Sri Jaya while on her way to Kuantan, she can continue listening to Gegar by tuning FM 88.8MHz from Bukit Pelindung until her destination.

In conclusion, I believe Fraser's Hill will generate more commercial value to Gegar because West Pahang listeners will be attracted by this East Coast oriented radio station. I do hope Gegar will expand its coverage to West Pahang one day.

Melaka FM 102.3MHz boleh didengari di sebahagian Selangor

RTM Melaka FM (dahulu dikenali sebagai Radio 3 Melaka) ialah sebuah stesen negeri RTM untuk negeri Melaka yang bersiaran pada FM 102.3MHz yang dipancar dari Gunung Ledang, Johor dengan kekuatan pemancar sebanyak 1kW. Walaupun Melaka FM hanya untuk negeri Melaka sahaja, stesen ini boleh didengari di negeri jiran Melaka seperti Johor Utara (Segamat, Tangkak, Muar dan Batu Pahat), sebahagian Negeri Sembilan (Tampin, Port Dickson, Linggi, Kota, Gemencheh, Gemas, Rompin, FELDA Palong, Johol dan Kuala Pilah) serta sebahagian Pahang (Keratong dan Muadzam Shah), tetapi Melaka FM 102.3MHz Gunung Ledang juga boleh diterima di sebahagian kawasan negeri Selangor.

Untuk negeri Selangor, RTM Melaka FM 102.3MHz Gunung Ledang boleh didengari di kawasan Sungai Pelek, Bagan Lalang, Tanjung Sepat dan sebahagian Sepang yang terletak di barat daya Selangor.

Kualiti penerimaan Melaka FM 102.3MHz Gunung Ledang masih ok (boleh tahan lagi) di Sungai Pelek, Tanjung Sepat serta Bagan Lalang. Hal ini kerana tiada halangan bukit antara Gunung Ledang dengan Sungai Pelek, Tanjung Sepat dan sebahagian Sepang, menyebabkan Melaka FM 102.3MHz boleh didengari di kawasan tersebut.

==Kawasan Selangor yang boleh menerima siaran Melaka FM 102.3MHz dari Gunung Ledang==
* Tanjung Sepat
* Sungai Pelek
* Bagan Lalang
* Sebahagian kawasan Sepang

THR Gegar FM untuk Pahang Barat (Bukit Fraser)

Sebagai stesen radio Pantai Timur oleh Astro, Gegar menyasarkan pendengar di negeri Kelantan, Terengganu dan Pahang.

Kawasan Kelantan diliputi dengan FM 88.1MHz dari Bukit Panau, manakala Terengganu diliputi dengan FM 106.8MHz dari Bukit Jerung, dan Pahang Timur diliputi dengan FM 88.8MHz dari Bukit Pelindung. Terengganu Selatan seperti Kemaman boleh menerima Gegar pada FM 88.8MHz dari Bukit Pelindung, manakala Dungun juga sama.

Untuk negeri Pahang, Gegar hanya boleh didengari pada FM 88.8MHz Bukit Pelindung di kawasan Kuantan, Gambang, Sungai Lembing dan Pekan, manakala kawasan lain negeri Pahang tidak dapat menerima Gegar. Oleh itu, pendengar Gegar perlu mendengar secara online, applikasi telefon, atau Astro DVR CH863.

Pada pandangan saya, kerana internet masih kurang stabil di negara Malaysia. Walaupun kawasan bandar terima 4G+ atau LTE, tetapi terdapat juga kawasan luar bandar masih menerima isyarat 3G atau 3.5G yang perlahan, hal ini menyebabkan pendengar tidak dapat mendengar Gegar secara online dengan stabil jika mereka berada di luar. 

Pada masa sama, saya mendapati bahawa pesaing Gegar, iaitu Manis FM telah melancarkan frekuensi Pahang Tengah pada FM 103.8MHz dari Bukit Senggora yang meliputi Maran, Temerloh, Bera dan Jerantut. Oleh kerana Manis FM telah beroperasi di Pahang Tengah pada frekuensi 103.8MHz sejak Disember 2018, Gegar akan "berasa terancam" oleh pelancaran tersebut. Sebenarnya Gegar masih boleh memperluaskan liputan siarannya ke Pahang Barat untuk memberi "serangan balas" (counterattack dalam Bahasa Inggeris) kepada Manis FM, cadangan ini membolehkan Manis FM dan Gegar bersaing dengan baik.

Oleh kerana stesen kembar Raaga yang berbahasa Tamil telah memancar dari Gunung Ulu Kali 99.3MHz, serta tiada frekuensi kosong sesuai digunakan di Gunung Ulu Kali, saya mencadangkan Gegar menggunakan tempat pemancar Bukit Fraser, sekurang-kurangnya Gegar boleh meliputi Pahang Barat dari Bukit Fraser, walaupun liputannya tidak luas seperti Gunung Ulu Kali.

Selain itu, sebelum menyebut lagi cadangan memperluaskan siaran Gegar ke Pahang Barat dengan Bukit Fraser, saya mendapati bahawa Pahang Barat juga mempunyai banyak pendengar Gegar. Dulu saya memberi cadangan untuk memperluaskan siaran Gegar ke Pahang Timur dengan Bukit Senggora serta Bukit Istana, tetapi saya percaya pihak pengurusan Astro Radio Sdn Bhd tidak melancarkan frekuensi untuk Gegar di dua tempat tersebut kerana tidak mempunyai nilai komersil. Oleh itu, antara Bukit Fraser dengan Bukit Senggora, tempat pemancar Bukit Fraser lebih canggih serta mempunyai lebih nilai komersil untuk Gegar daripada Bukit Senggora.

* Bukit Senggora hanya meliputi Maran, Jengka, Chenor, Sri Jaya serta sebahagian Temerloh.
* Bukit Istana hanya meliputi bandar Jerantut sahaja
* Bukit Fraser meliputi Raub, Kuala Lipis dan Bentong (liputan utama).

Antara tiga tempat pemancar atas, Bukit Fraser lebih luas daripada Bukit Istana dan Bukit Senggora. Jadinya, Bukit Fraser lebih sesuai kepada Gegar jika stesen tersebut memperluaskan ke Pahang Barat.

Setakat ini, Bukit Fraser hanya mempunyai empat stesen radio RTM yang baru beroperasi pada tahun 2017/18 dengan Nasional FM 106.2MHz, Pahang FM 102.2MHz, Ai FM 97.1MHz dan Radio Klasik pada kekuatan pemancar tidak melebihi 0.2kW. Stesen radio RTM di Bukit Fraser terutamanya meliputi kawasan titik buta Raub dan Lipis, tetapi pemancarannya masih boleh diterima secara lemah di Lanchang, Temerloh, Karak serta Bera. Bagi pemancaran TV, Bukit Fraser hanya mempunyai RTM TV1, TV2 serta TV3 untuk siaran analog, manakala siaran digital televisyen MYTV bakal melancarkan di Bukit Fraser untuk Raub pada Januari 2019.

==Frekuensi kosong untuk Bukit Fraser==
* 89.4MHz, 91.9MHz, 92.4MHz, 93.5MHz, 104.4MHz, 107.9MHz

==Cadangan saya terhadap Gegar frekuensi Pahang Barat==
* Frekuensi: FM 92.4MHz
* Kuasa: 1kW
* Tempat pemancar: Bukit Fraser, Pahang
* Kawasan liputan: Raub, Kuala Lipis, Benta, Mentakab, Lanchang, Bentong, Temerloh, Bandar Bera, Kuala Krau, Teriang serta Kemayan. Selain dari Pahang Barat, Gegar mungkin boleh didengari di sedikit bahagian Selangor dengan isyarat lemah

==RF analisa==

92.3MHz: Minnal FM Menara Kuala Lumpur
92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<100kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.4MHz: Hot FM Bukit Pelindung
<0kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.6MHz: Negeri FM Gunung Telapak Burok
<200kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
92.7MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Istana
<300kHz, OK>

92.2MHz: Lite Gunung Ledang
92.4MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<200kHz, OK>

Peta liputan Bukit Fraser untuk Gegar

Berdasarkan pada RF analisa, pemancaran Gegar 92.4MHz dari Bukit Fraser sebanyak 1kW kekuatan pemancar tidak akan memberi impak gangguan kepada liputan stesen radio lain yang sedia ada. Minnal FM 92.3MHz dari Menara Kuala Lumpur mungkin diganggu oleh Gegar 92.4MHz di utara Selangor seperti Rawang, Serendah, Kuang, Batu Arang, Batang Kali dan Kuala Kubu Bharu kerana pendengar Minnal FM di kawasan terganggu boleh mendengar stesen tersebut pada 96.3MHz yang sangat jelas dari Gunung Ulu Kali, manakala kawasan Selangor yang saya sebutkan bukan liputan utama Gegar 92.4MHz dari Bukit Fraser.

Jika Astro Radio membuat keputusan untuk memperluaskan siaran Gegar ke Pahang Barat dengan Bukit Fraser (cadangan frekuensi: 92.4MHz), pendengar Gegar di Pahang Barat boleh menerima stesen radio ini melalui penerima radio dari Bukit Fraser. Di samping itu, pendengar yang memandu dari Kuala Lumpur ke Pantai Timur untuk "balik kampung" atau urusan lain di Pantai Timur, mereka boleh dengar Gegar dari kawasan Bentong. Bagi contoh pertama, jika pendengar Gegar bernama Abang Arif bertolak dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kota Bharu untuk menziarahi saudara-saudarinya, dia boleh mendengar siaran Gegar pada 92.4MHz Bukit Fraser dari Bentong sehingga Kuala Lipis. 

Contoh kedua, jika pendengar Gegar bernama Cik Aisyah ingin pergi ke Kuantan atau Terengganu dari Kuala Lumpur, dia boleh mendengar Gegar pada FM 92.4MHz Bukit Fraser di sekitar Lebuhraya Pantai Timur dari Bentong selepas Bukit Tinggi sehingga Chenor. Jika Gegar melancar frekuensi Bukit Senggora (contoh 102.0MHz), Cik Aisyah boleh tala frekuensi radio Gegar pada 102.0MHz dari Chenor sehinggalah Sri Jaya. Selepas itu, dia boleh terus mendengar Gegar pada 88.8MHz dari Bukit Pelindung dari Gambang sehingga destinasinya.

Saya mempercayai bahawa Bukit Fraser akan membawa nilai komersil kepada Gegar kerana pendengar Pahang Barat tertarik oleh stesen radio Pantai Timur ini.

Kesimpulannya, saya berharap Gegar akan memperluaskan liputan siarannya ke Pahang Barat pada suatu hari nanti.

My opinion regarding Asyik FM coverage expansion in Eastern Pahang

Manis FM launched Central Pahang frequency 103.8MHz on December 2018

On December 2018, Manis FM had launched Central Pahang frequency on FM 103.8MHz. Its radio transmission site is located in Celcom Bukit Senggora where covers Maran, Jengka, Sri Jaya, Chenor, Temerloh, Bera and Jerantut.

Before launching of Manis FM 103.8MHz in Bukit Senggora as Central Pahang frequency, Central Pahang areas were unable to receive Kuantan frequency FM 95.1MHz from Bukit Pelindung.

Apparently and generally, Manis FM claimed that 103.8MHz can be received in Temerloh, Bera and Jerantut, but technically FM 103.8MHz from Bukit Senggora cannot be received there. I was used to travel Bera, Temerloh and Teriang, and try to receive Pahang FM 92.0MHz Bukit Senggora signal, but there was no signal in Temerloh and Bera. Actually RTM Bukit Senggora radio stations operate low power about 0.25kW and lower antenna gain, I guessed, plus RTM Bukit Senggora is transmitted from TM tower, but Manis FM is from CELCOM Bukit Senggora. I may believe Manis FM 103.8MHz uses higher antenna gain, so Temerloh, Bera and Jerantut can receive Manis FM 103.8MHz from Bukit Senggora with weaker reception.

Manis FM is the first ever commercial radio station where installs its transmitter in Bukit Senggora because previously only RTM (Malaysia's public broadcaster) is available in Bukit Senggora for its TV and radio stations. I felt surprised over this news actually because Bukit Senggora has no much commercial value, but Manis FM does launch there. This reflects me about my past activity about radio broadcasting proposal. Back to August 2015, I was used to highlight my suggestion to Astro by launching THR Gegar in Central Pahang from Bukit Senggora actually, but I was told that Astro had no plan to expand there as there was no commercial value for THR Gegar. 

Before Manis FM, actually Bukit Senggora was used to become my research study for THR Gegar first.

==Manis FM Central Pahang frequency basic information==
* Frequency: FM 103.8MHz
* Power: 0.5kW
* Transmitting location: CELCOM Bukit Senggora, Pahang (258m)
* Commissioned since: December 2018

After Manis FM uses 103.8MHz in Bukit Senggora, FM 103.7MHz cannot be used in Bukit Pelindung, Kuantan, and 103.7MHz is no longer classified under empty frequency list in Bukit Pelindung, effective on 26th October 2018.

Here is my coverage map of Manis FM 103.8MHz Bukit Senggora by using Nautel RF Toolkit (but I just put roughly antenna gain, VSWR value as they're private and confidential):

According to the coverage map above, actually Temerloh, Jerantut and Bera can receive Manis FM partially, this means that Manis FM 103.8MHz reception is not so clear in these areas. If one day Manis FM wants to expand coverage to West Pahang, but Gunung Ulu Kali frequencies are not available, so Manis FM still can launch in Fraser's Hill to cover these areas clearer.

The reception of Fraser's Hill radio is expected to be clearer than Bukit Senggora in Temerloh, Lanchang, Bera, Bentong, and Mentakab.

By the way, as I'm independent blogger for broadcasting topics, I would like to congratulate Manis FM for expanding its coverage to Central Pahang successfully. Happy broadcast!

My suggestion of expanding Asyik FM coverage

To target more Orang Asli areas by launching via FM radio transmitter, here are my proposed locations for Asyik FM:

==Main proposal==
* FM 107.7MHz: Changkat Rembian to cover Tapah, Bidor, Sungkai, Temoh, Chenderiang, Langkap, Tanjung Tualang, Teluk Intan, Kampung Gajah, Bagan Datuk, Bota, Seri Iskandar and Teronoh.
* FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan to cover Muadzam Shah, Kuala Rompin, Keratong and Pekan of Pahang
* FM 107.5MHz for Sungai Siput (U)
* FM 105.5MHz Bukit Kayu Ara for Kuala Pilah, Tanjung Ipoh, Johol, Dangi, Bahau, Juasseh, Seri Menanti

==Additional proposal==
* FM 102.2MHz Batu 18 Hulu Langat for Hulu Langat
* FM 93.8MHz Memplam Sari for Gerik

My review of Asyik FM programming and music format

Asyik FM is Orang Asli language radio station by RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) to target Orang Asli community in Peninsular Malaysia.

This radio station does play Orang Asli traditional music, but it is not much. Although it is broadcasting in Orang Asli languages such as Temiar, Semai, and Jakun which are a bit same like Malay language, but its majority music selection are classic Malay songs and some Malay pop songs.

In my opinion, to target more Orang Asli listeners by not only expanding coverage to Orang Asli areas, Asyik FM shall put more Orang Asli language music, and feature more Orang Asli related topics. Other than Orang Asli and Malay music, Asyik FM does have Hindi music segment by playing Hindustan and Bollywood. In addition, besides Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia, RTM Asyik FM can expand its music segment and programme in Sabah and Sarawak ethnics such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Bidayuh, Kayan, Bajau etc to make integration between Peninuslar and Sabah-Sarawak.

Perhaps there are quite numbers of Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and ethnics from East Malaysia are staying in Peninsular Malaysia, so I suggest RTM shall expand Asyik FM programs to target Sabah and Sarawak by launching Sabah and Sarawak ethnic programmes.

As Jakun, Temiar, Semai and Proto-Malay are majority languages of this radio station, Asyik FM can play Sabah and Sarawak ethnic musics actually, featuring with Iban, Kadazan Dusun programmes as minority language of the radio station.

With this suggestion, I may believe that Asyik FM will have better listenership if featuring Sabahans and Sarawakians content. Not only Orang Asli and Malays listen to Asyik FM, Ibaneses, Kadazans and other ethnics from Sabah and Sarawak who stay in Peninuslar Malaysia will be attracted by Asyik FM to listen their programmes.

RTM perlu memperluaskan siaran Asyik FM ke Pahang Timur

Siaran radio RTM berbahasa Orang Asli, Asyik FM kini telah meliputi kesemua kawasan Pahang Barat dengan FM 102.5MHz dari Gunung Ulu Kali, terdapat banyak penduduk Orang Asli di Bentong, Bera, Kuala Lipis dan Raub, manakala RTM menambah pemancar kuasa rendah Asyik FM 99.9MHz di Bukit Botak meliputi Damak dimana terdapat penduduk Orang Asli.

Selain daripada Pahang Barat, terdapat juga penduduk Orang Asli di Pahang Timur, terutama Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Muadzam Shah dan sebahagian Kuantan, tetapi kawasan-kawasan tersebut tidak dalam liputan pemancar Asyik FM yang sedia ada. Oleh itu, RTM patut memperluaskan siaran Asyik FM ke Pahang Timur.

Mengenai perkembangan liputan siaran Asyik FM ke Pahang Timur, manakah tempat pemancaran yang RTM perlu memasangkan?

Terdapat empat tempat pemancaran yang meliputi Pahang Timur (termasuk tempat pemancar jurang), iaitu:

1. Bukit Pelindung (Kuantan, Pekan, Gambang Timur)
2. Bukit Sulai (Gambang Barat, Chini dan Sri Jaya)
3. Kuala Rompin
4. Bukit Sembilan (Muadzam Shah, Pekan, Rompin, Keratong)

Di Pahang Timur, kesemua stesen radio akan memancar siarannya dari Bukit Pelindung kerana meliputi bandar Kuantan dimana kawasan Kuantan adalah ibu negeri Pahang. Tambahan pula, Kuantan adalah kawasan berpadat di Pahang. 

Liputan Bukit Pelindung

Berdasarkan pada peta liputan Bukit Pelindung, walaupun sasaran utama ialah Kuantan, ia meliputi Terengganu Selatan, Gambang dan Pekan Pahang, tetapi pemancarannya tidak dapat meliputi Muadzam Shah, Kuala Rompin dimana mempunyai Orang Asli kerana terhalang oleh bukit.

Bukit Sulai

Liputan pemancar Bukit Sulai hampir sama dengan Bukit Pelindung, cuma pemancarannya meliputi kawasan Gambang. Oleh itu, liputan pemancarannya kurang luas seperti Bukit Pelindung dan Bukit Sembilan.

Kawasan Orang Asli di Pahang Timur sebenarya meliputi Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Muadzam Shah serta Keratong, manakala kawasan Kuantan adalah minoriti. Pada pandangan saya, RTM boleh memasang pemancar untuk siaran Asyik FM di Bukit Sembilan. RTM Pahang FM mempunyai pemancar Bukit Sembilan pada frekuensi FM 88.0MHz, cuma kekuatan pemancarnya ialah 0.1kW dimana had untuk Muadzam Shah sahaja. 

Saya perasan bahawa Bukit Sembilan lebih logik dan sesuai daripada Bukit Pelindung untuk Asyik FM stesen RTM Orang Asli, berbanding dengan stesen radio lain kerana Bukit Sembilan adalah tempat pemancar lebih strategik daripada Bukit Pelindung untuk liputan kawasan Orang Asli di Pahang Timur.

==Cadangan saya terhadap Asyik FM di Pahang Timur==

* Frekuensi: FM 100.8MHz

* Kuasa: 2kW

* Tempat pemancar: Bukit Sembilan, Pahang (492m)

* Kawasan liputan: Muadzam Shah, Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Keratong dan sebahagian Kuantan/Gambang

==RF analisa==

100.4MHz: one FM Bukit Pelindung
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<400kHz, OK>

100.6MHz: MY FM Gunung Telapak Burok
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<200kHz, OK>

100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
100.9MHz: Selangor FM Gunung Ulu Kali (Selangor sahaja)
<100kHz, OK>

100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
101.1MHz: MY FM Bukit Pelindung
<300kHz, OK>

100.4MHz: Ai FM Gunung Ledang
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<400kHz, OK>

Peta liputan Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan

Berdasarkan pada peta liputan Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan, dengan kekuatan pemancar 2kW, Bukit Sembilan bukan sahaja meliputi Pahang Timur (Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Muadzam Shah, Keratong serta sebahagian Kuantan/Gambang), isyarat radio Bukit Sembilan juga boleh diterima di kawasan Negeri Sembilan Timur seperti FELDA Palong, Ladang Geddes dan Jempol Timur. Kawasan FELDA Lui yang terletak antara Bandar Seri Jempol dan Kemayan boleh menerima siaran Asyik FM 100.8MHz dari Bukit Sembilan dimana penerimaan MY FM 100.6MHz Gunung Telapak Burok jadi lemah kawasan tersebut akibat terlindung oleh Hutan Simpan Pasoh yang terletak di sempadan daerah Jempol dan Jelebu, tetapi pendengar MY FM di kawasan ini boleh tala ke 106.4MHz dari Gunung Ledang yang jelas.

Mengenai frekuensi cadangan 100.8MHz, penggunaan frekuensi tersebut oleh Asyik FM di Bukit Sembilan tidak akan membawa gangguan kepada Selangor FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali kerana Pahang bukan dalam liputan Selangor FM 100.9MHz.

Sebab utama saya mencadangkan 100.8MHz ialah sebelum ini saya pernah buat cadangan analisa FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ledang, tetapi frekuensi tersebut kurang sesuai digunakan di Gunung Ledang akibat gangguan oleh Selangor FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali di Melaka Utara.

Dengan frekuensi Asyik FM 100.8MHz di Bukit Sembilan, pendengar Orang Asli di Pahang Timur boleh menerima siaran Asyik FM lebih jelas. Justeru, Orang Asli boleh mendapatkan berita, hiburan dan penerangan dalam bahasa Orang Asli.

Secara kesimpulannya, saya harap RTM akan bertimbang untuk memperluaskan siaran Asyik FM ke Pahang Timur dengan cadangan ini sebagai rancangan masa depan.

==RTM Bukit Sembilan==
* TV1: UHF CH50 703.25MHz (analog)
* TV2: UHF CH53 727.25MHz (analog)
* Pahang FM 88.0MHz
* Asyik FM 100.8MHz (cadangan)

ntv7 will return Chinese segment by launching CJ Wow Shop Mandarin as majoirty

ntv7 wants to "relaunch" Chinese programmes next year to attract its lost Chinese viewers? Sounds yes, but Media Prima is going to transfer CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment from 8TV to ntv7 and then extend its program hours.  

Recently there is a news reporting that Media Prima will extend CJ Wow Shop Chinese Mandarin segment on ntv7, effective on 31st December 2018. On 31st December 2018 and 1st January 2019, ntv7 will broadcast special live program of launching CJ Wow Shop Mandarin extended segment.

Start from 2019, NTV7 will have no more Malay shows, its slots will be filled by CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment at non-peak hours. Besides CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment, ntv7 only leaves Korean shows at peak hours. In addition, ntv7 will broadcast some rerun Chinese programs and dramas from 8TV such as 活力加油站 Living Delight, 環島8 Let's Cycle, and 新蕭十一郎 New Xiao Shi Yi Lang.

News in Mandarin Chinese, Malay and English will be remained as usual. In March 2018, NTV7 is rebranded as Modern Malaysians' TV station by airing modern Malay shows, Korean shows and some English as well as Turkish dramas. Moreover, ntv7 is also airing Thai drama, meanwhile its Chinese slots were fully moved to 8TV, leaves only Mandarin News.

In my opinion, the rebranding exercise of ntv7 in March 2018 seems like unsuccessful due to lower viewership. I think that Malay viewers highly prefer TV3 for free-to-air TV, even they go to watch pay TV channels. Besides FTA TV, the Malaysia's pay TV company Astro has free satellite TV, known as NJOI, provides few free Malay channels such as Astro Prima (CH105), and soon defunct Astro Maya HD which are competitors of TV3 and NTV7.

Due to unsuccessful rebranding exercise of ntv7, coincidentally Media Prima gains revenue via CJ Wow Shop, especially Chinese segment shopping programmes, CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment attracts 45% of Chinese customers in 2017/18, Media Prima decides to extend CJ Wow Shop Mandarin Chinese segment on ntv7 in 2019 in order to cover the loss-making of ntv7.  

Hmmmm.. Television industry is more difficult than radio actually, it is very challenging to establish a television station because content is the king. When a TV station offers unattractive content, it is unable to attract viewers and advertisers, which cause loss-making revenue.

Free-to-air television nowadays is very challenging as it faces many competitors such as Video-On-Demand, YouTube, iflix, Netflix, dimsum by The Star and pay TV. In addition, people nowadays don't really watch TV anymore because they prefer to watch their favorite contents via digital platform such as VOD, Youtube etc which is non-linear media.

Non-linear media is more interactive to consumers, people can decide themselves to watch the content. Free-to-air television is linear platform, which is decided by broadcaster.

I understand that launching of CJ Wow Shop will create controversy and make many viewers angry, but Media Prima has no choice, the media company has to do that because it lost revenue year by year. To cover loss making revenue, shopping TV programme is launched, so they can make money by selling products to the viewers.

In conjunction with analogue switch off of terrestrial television on 31st March 2019, all free-to-air television stations move digitally via DVB-T2, so about Media Prima TV networks, the group may not want to handle many TV stations, so at least 1 of 4 current TV station will be closed down within 3 years. 

I guess Media Prima is highly focusing TV3 and 8TV, if touch wood NTV7 and TV9 cannot cover their loss-making revenue although launching CJ Wow Shop in Mandarin and Malay respectively, so Media Prima may close down these two TV stations in order to cut cost. TV9 currently broadcasts extended CJ Wow Shop since 5th March 2018 after the rebranding exercise of ntv7, but in 2019, NTV7 broadcasts extended Mandarin CJ Wow Shop.

For disposing and ceasing loss-making TV stations, if a loss-making broadcaster closes down its TV station without acquisition of new buyer, the frequencies will be returned to MCMC (Malaysia Communications Multimedia Commission), so the broadcaster cannot get back money from any party. Regardless analogue or digital transmission, the most valuable things of disposal TV stations are broadcasting license, then the frequencies (for analog).

Because analogue TV will be closed down by March 2019 in Malaysia, if Media Prima chooses to dispose NTV7 and TV9 after ASO (may be in next 3 years), I think their disposal TV stations cannot be acquired by anyone because previously acquisition of a loss-making TV or radio stations by new company is just to buy the frequencies and licenses to launch new stations, plus TV will go digitally. Since NTV7 and TV9 are under Media Prima, when Media Prima chooses to dispose them, it can transfer all remain asset of NTV7 and TV9 to other source, for the staffs, Media Prima could lay off or transfer them to other department, or even TV3 and 8TV, known as "merging". 

==Media Prima TV stations line-up 2019==

* TV3: Mass Malay

* NTV7: Chinese shopping TV (majority), Korean and Chinese rerun shows from 8TV

* 8TV: Mass Chinese

* TV9: Malay shopping TV (Majority), Indonesian and Malay rerun shows from TV3

==My analysis on Media Prima TV stations line-up post ASO and next 3 years==

* TV3: Mass Malay

* 8TV: Mass Chinese

* Drama Sangat: Malay dramas

* NTV7: <to be disposed if loss revenue although with Chinese CJ Wow Shop>

* TV9: <to be disposed if loss revenue>  

Another possibility is Media Prima can merge NTV7 and TV9 into CJ Wow Shop in Malay and Mandarin, which makes bilingual shopping TV station.

People nowadays are far away different to people in the past, because of digital platform, people's taste are hugely changed.

BFM 89.9 is available in Johor? Really?

BFM 89.9MHz is Klang Valley only English business radio station in Malaysia, it is transmitted from Gunung Ulu Kali where covers Kuala Lumpur, whole Selangor, Southern Perak, Western Pahang, and part of Negeri Sembilan/Melaka, BUT some Johor areas still can receive BFM 89.9 from Klang Valley (Gunung Ulu Kali).

BFM 89.9 can be received in Johor? Yes, but it is available in certain areas only.

Batu Anam, Segamat and Labis still can receive BFM 89.9 with moderate reception quality, although it is not clear as Klang Valley and Southern Perak. In May 2016, I was used to travel Gemas and Rompin, Negeri Sembilan which located next to Johor border, the reception of BFM 89.9 was still available in Gemas, but when I stepped in Johor border, I still could listen to BFM 89.9 in Batu Anam, alongside with Lite FM 105.7MHz. Sorry for inconvenience because I did not capture the video of BFM 89.9 reception in Batu Anam as I was driving. 

Muar cannot receive BFM 89.9 actually as it is protected by Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir), but Segamat, Batu Anam, and Labis can receive BFM 89.9 because there is no much terrain between Gunung Ulu Kali and them.

 

 

Another unexpected situation is few of people detected BFM 89.9 signal in further Johor areas, namely Yong Peng and Simpang Renggam, I feel surprised and freak over those reception videos.

First video above is my friend captured BFM 89.9MHz reception video in Hentian Sebelah Utara Yong Peng, Johor (Yong Peng northbound rest station), the reception is not too bad, but I believe the signal will be faded more when it is not in stationary condition. Distance between Gunung Ulu Kali and Yong Peng is 204km.

Second video is captured in Kampung Isnin Maarof, Simpang Renggam, Johor. Reception video is taken in the car, also stationary condition. Simpang Renggam is not far away from Kluang and Ayer Hitam, so I may guess BFM 89.9 can be received in Kluang and Ayer Hitam, but weak reception. Distance between Simpang Renggam and Gunung Ulu Kali is 246km!

Even I tried to receive 89.9 in Sri Gading and Parit Raja, there was nothing signal from BFM.

So, in conclusion, Batu Anam, Segamat and Labis can receive BFM 89.9 from Gunung Ulu Kali. I would like to thank to a YouTube user from Simpang Renggam for sharing reception video of BFM 89.9 there. For Johor radio listeners, please leave comment on this blog post if there is any feedback about this topic.