SIBU (29th April 2019): According to Info Sibu Facebook page, the Malaysia no.1 commercial radio broadcaster, Astro Radio has expanded coverage for its popular radio brands Hitz, Era and MY in Sibu, Sarawak.
This is latest coverage expansion by Astro Radio in the state after the broadcaster expanded coverage in Miri for MY, HITZ, and ERA since August 2013, meanwhile Sinar and Mix (later replaced by Melody) reached coverage in Miri.
After 5.5 years from the coverage expansion in Miri, now Astro MY, HITZ and ERA are available in Sibu.
I may believe Sinar and Melody will be available in Sibu later when there is demand in Sibu.
With the coverage expansion in Sibu, listeners are able to access HITZ, MY and ERA in the area via FM radio, regardless indoor, outdoor or in the car.
ASTRO Radio is the third commercial broadcaster to be available in Sibu officially to end RTM monopoly since 29th April 2019. Cats FM is the first Sarawak based commercial broadcaster to air in Sibu, meanwhile Sarawak based Chinese-English radio broadcaster TEA FM launched in Sibu frequency FM 100.7MHz since December 2016. This provides alternative and more choices to Sibu listeners.
Here are the Astro Radio no.1 brands Sibu frequency list:
- ERA Sarawak 96.3FM
- HITZ Sarawak 105.1FM
- MY Sarawak 105.9FM
Same as TEA FM 100.7MHz, three of them are transmitted from Bukit Lima where mainly covers Sibu town.
Photos credits to Info Sibu Facebook Page and Astro Radio Sdn Bhd.
History of FM 107.9MHz in Central region of Malaysia/Sejarah FM 107.9MHz di wilayah tengah Malaysia:
Negeri FM 107.9MHz RTM Seremban (1990-2006)>>Klasik Nasional FM 107.9MHz Gunung Telapak Burok (2006-2009)>>FM 107.9MHz Bukit Sungai Besi (March 2013-present)
==Parameter of FM 107.9MHz in Negeri Sembilan/Kuala Lumpur==
1. RTM Negeri FM * TX Location: RTM Seremban, Negeri Sembilan * TX Power: 1kW * Areas served: Seremban, Mantin and Labu * Service timeline: 1990-2006
2. RTM Klasik Nasional * TX Location: Gunung Telapak Burok, Negeri Sembilan * TX Power: 1kW * Areas served: Seremban, Kuala Pilah, Jelebu, Port Dickson, Rembau, Jempol, South Selangor. Available in part of Melaka * Service timeline: 2006- December 2009 * Note: An additional transmitter of weaker FM 87.9MHz Gunung Telapak Burok (0.1kW TX power till November 2009) to serve Seremban better between 2006-2009.
3. IM4U FM * TX Location: Bukit Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur * TX Power: 1kW * Areas served: Klang Valley (Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang Valley, Kuala Selangor, Sungai Buloh, Ampang, Cheras, Batu Caves, Kajang, Semenyih, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Kuala Langat, Banting, Selayang) and part of Negeri Sembilan (Nilai, and Mantin) * Service timeline: March 2013-June 2018 * Successor: Rakita #MemangLit, brand transition was between July 2018 and December 2018, only non-stop music and no DJs were on-air during brand transition period.
4. Rakita (same TX site and TX power as IM4U FM) * Service timeline: January 2019-present * Note: Station brand transition was happened between July 2018 and December 2018
5. Gegar (formerly known as THR Gegar) [suggestion] * TX Site: Bukit Fraser * Power: 1kW * Area served: Bentong, Raub, Karak, Mentakab, Lanchang, Temerloh, Chenor, Dong, Benta, Kuala Krau, Kuala Lipis, Padang Tengku, Bera, Teriang, and FELDA Tembangau. * Service timeline: (Suggestion only)
If Astro decides to expand Gegar coverage to Western Pahang by locating transmitter in Fraser's Hill on 107.9MHz, so FM 107.9MHz could be divided into two radio stations within central region and Western Pahang, but totally different areas served. Rakita serves Klang Valley, meanwhile Gegar serves Western Pahang.
Between 2010 and 2013, FM 107.9MHz was vacant frequency in Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan after Klasik Nasional closed down its duplicate Gunung Telapak Burok transmitter when its original FM 87.9MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok was fully upgraded with 2kW transmitter.
So, here is the timeline of FM 107.9MHz with adding Gegar Bukit Fraser suggestion: Negeri FM RTM Seremban>>Klasik Nasional Gunung Telapak Burok>>IM4U FM Bukit Sungai Besi>> Rakita Bukit Sungai Besi + Gegar Bukit Fraser Negeri Sembilan (RTM Negeri FM and Klasik Nasional)>>Kuala Lumpur (Rakita fka IM4U FM) + Western Pahang (Gegar)
==Senarai frekuensi Manis FM vs. Gegar di Pantai Timur==
* Kota Bharu: Manis FM 90.6MHz Tunjung vs. Gegar FM 88.1MHz Bukit Panau
* Kuala Terengganu: Manis FM 102.0MHz vs. Gegar FM 106.8MHz (Bukit Jerung)
* Kuantan: Manis FM 95.1MHz vs. Gegar FM 88.8MHz (Bukit Pelindung)
* Pahang Tengah/Barat: Manis FM 103.8MHz Bukit Senggora (sejak Disember 2018) vs. Gegar FM 107.9MHz Bukit Fraser (cadangan)
==Perbandingan antara kawasan liputan Manis FM vs. Gegar di Pahang Tengah/Barat==
* Manis FM 103.8MHz Bukit Senggora: Maran, Sri Jaya, Chini, Jerantut, Chenor, Jengka, Temerloh, Bera, Mentakab, Teriang, Karak, Bentong, Kuala Krau, Lanchang, Tembangau dan Genting Sempah.
* Gegar FM 107.9MHz Bukit Fraser (cadangan): Raub, Kuala Lipis, Benta, Dong, Kuala Krau, Lurah Bilut, Bentong, Karak, Lanchang, Mentakab, Temerloh, Chenor, Bera, Teriang dan FELDA Tembangau
Antara kawasan liputan kedua-dua stesen radio Pantai Timur, liputan Manis FM 103.8MHz agak luas juga di Pahang Tengah, berbanding dengan stesen RTM Bukit Senggora, tetapi liputan siaran Gegar FM 107.9MHz Bukit Fraser lebih luas daripada Manis FM 103.8MHz Bukit Senggora. Selain itu, liputan Gegar FM 107.9MHz dapat mencapai kawasan Kuala Lipis dan Raub, tetapi Manis FM 103.8MHz tidak mencapai kawasan Raub dan Lipis.
Dari segi nilai komersil di Pahang Barat/Tengah, Gegar FM lebih banyak pasaran daripada Manis FM jika Gegar mempunyai frekuensi Bukit Fraser pada suatu hari nanti.
Persaingan akan lebih hebat antara Gegar dan Manis FM di Pahang Barat jika Gegar bersiaran di Bukit Fraser 107.9MHz, mungkin Gegar boleh "masuk" kawasan Negeri Sembilan timur dan Segamat Johor apabila FM 107.9MHz boleh diterima walaupun signal lemah.
Gegar ialah sebuah stesen radio no.1 Pantai Timur oleh Astro Radio, kini ia sudah meliputi Kelantan Utara, Terengganu serta Pahang Timur. Pada pandangan saya, Gegar boleh memperluaskan siarannya ke Pahang Barat dengan memasang pemancar di Bukit Fraser.
Cadangan untuk memasang pemancar di Gunung Ulu Kali untuk Gegar tidak sesuai atas sebab lesen penyiaran Gegar berkongsi dengan Raaga stesen bahasa Tamil. Hal ini kerana Raaga 99.3 telah bersiaran di Gunung Ulu Kali pada 99.3MHz, saya mungkin percaya SKMM tidak membenarkan Gegar bersiaran di Gunung Ulu Kali sama sekali, sama isu di Kuantan Bukit Pelindung, Raaga dan Gegar tidak boleh bersiaran sama sekali di Bukit Pelindung kerana lesen penyiaran Radio Lebuhraya Sdn Bhd, dahulu dikenali Time Highway Radio, membahagi kepada dua stesen radio, Raaga untuk pantai barat, manakala Gegar untuk pantai timur, itu sebab Time Highway Radio sebelum masuk Astro memilih Gegar bersiaran di Kuantan daripada Raaga kerana orang Melayu lebih banyak daripada orang India di Pahang Timur, namun THR FM mendapati stesen Gegar boleh bersaing dengan Manis FM pada masa itu. Oleh itu, THR FM membuat penjemaan semula slot Gegar kepada stesen Melayu di Pantai Timur, manakala slot Raaga dijenamakan sebagai stesen radio Tamil di Pantai Barat. Selain itu, Gunung Ulu Kali tidak mempunyai frekuensi kosong pada masa sekarang.
Liputan utama Bukit Fraser ialah Raub, dan Kuala Lipis, tetapi penerimaan stesen radio Bukit Fraser masih jelas dan ok di kawasan Pahang lain seperti Temerloh, Chenor, Bentong, Karak, Bera, Mentakab dan Teriang.
RTM mempunyai empat stesen radio yang bersiaran di Bukit Fraser, iaitu Nasional FM 106.2MHz, Radio Klasik FM 90.9MHz, Ai FM 97.1MHz dan Pahang FM 102.2MHz, penambahan frekuensi di Bukit Fraser untuk RTM sebenarnya meliputi Raub dimana terlindung daripada liputan Gunung Ulu Kali. Di Temerloh, Bera, Teriang dan Chenor, stesen radio Bukit Fraser masih boleh diterima, manakala di Lebuhraya Pantai Timur dari Bentong Timur sehingga Chenor, penerimaan stesen radio RTM Bukit Fraser masih boleh didengari dengan jelas, walaupun kuasa pemancarnya 0.5kW.
Mengenai frekuensi Gegar Pahang Barat dari Bukit Fraser, sebelum ini saya mencadangkan FM 92.4MHz, tetapi Hot FM 92.4MHz dari Bukit Pelindung Kuantan diterima dengan jelas di Chenor, juga masih boleh diterima dalam keadaan yang stabil di Bera (walaupun kurang jelas). Penggunaan frekuensi FM 92.4MHz oleh Gegar di Bukit Fraser mungkin menyebabkan Gegar bakal diganggu oleh Hot FM 92.4MHz di Bera dan Chenor akibat pemancaran Hot FM 92.4MHz sangat kuat dari Bukit Pelindung.
Selain daripada FM 92.4MHz, frekuensi FM 107.9MHz boleh digunakan oleh Gegar di Bukit Fraser untuk Pahang Barat. Walaupun FM 107.9MHz adalah Radio Klasik di Bukit Pelindung untuk Kuantan dan Pekan, tetapi siaran Radio Klasik FM 107.9MHz tidak diterima di Pahang Tengah seperti Chenor. Oleh itu, penggunaan frekuensi FM 107.9MHz oleh Gegar adalah sesuai di Bukit Fraser.
Di samping itu, pemancaran Gegar FM 107.9MHz dari Bukit Fraser tidak akan membawa gangguan kepada liputan Rakita FM 107.9MHz Bukit Sungai Besi di Lembah Klang kerana liputan kedua-dua stesen radio tersebut adalah berbeza.
==Kawasan liputan FM 107.9MHz==
* Rakita FM Bukit Sungai Besi (dahulu dikenali sebagai IM4U FM): Lembah Klang
* Gegar FM Bukit Fraser: Pahang Barat (Raub, Bentong, Kuala Lipis, Temerloh, Karak, Lanchang, Chenor, Bera, Teriang)
==Cadangan saya mengenai siaran Gegar untuk Pahang Barat==
* Frekuensi: FM 107.9MHz
* Kuasa: 1kW
* Tempat pemancar: Bukit Fraser
* Kawasan liputan: Raub, Bentong, Kuala Lipis, Temerloh, Karak, Lanchang, Chenor, Bera, Teriang, FELDA Tembangau
* Ketinggian atas paras laut: 1337m
Peta liputan siaran Gegar 107.9MHz dari Bukit Fraser (hijau 54dBuV/m dan ke atas)
Dengan pemancar Bukit Fraser FM 107.9MHz, Gegar boleh bersaing dengan Manis FM 103.8MHz dari Bukit Senggora di kawasan Pahang Barat. Sebelum wujudnya Manis FM 103.8MHz di Bukit Senggora untuk Pahang Tengah, Gegar dan Manis FM telah mempunyai persaingan yang hebat di kawasan yang sedia ada.
Saya percaya bahawa pendengar Gegar di Pahang Barat yang sentiasa memandu di sekitar Lebuhraya Pantai Timur akan menerima siaran Gegar 107.9 dari Bentong Timur sehingga Chenor dengan jelas, mungkin penerimaan Gegar 107.9 dari Bukit Fraser akan lebih jelas dan luas daripada siaran radio RTM Bukit Fraser.
== RF analisa Gegar Bukit Fraser ==
107.5MHz: Pahang FM Gunung Ulu Kali
107.9MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<400kHz, OK>
107.7MHz: Negeri FM Gunung Ledang
107.9MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<200kHz, OK>
107.9MHz: Rakita FM Bukit Sungai Besi
107.9MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
<0kHz, OK>
107.9MHz: Gegar Bukit Fraser
107.9MHz: Radio Klasik Bukit Pelindung
<0kHz, OK>
Pencawang Bukit Fraser, lokasi di Hotel TM Sri Peninjau
==Contoh RF analisa Lembah Klang dengan Bukit Fraser 0kHz/100kHz==
97.1MHz: Ai FM Bukit Fraser 97.2MHz: KL FM Kuala Lumpur Tower <100kHz, OK>
CH12: TV3 Bukit Fraser CH12: TV3 Bukit Sungai Besi <0kHz, OK>
CH5: TV1 Bukit Fraser CH5: TV1 KL Tower <0kHz, OK>
CH8: TV2 KL Tower CH8: TV2 Bukit Fraser <0kHz, OK>
Secara kesimpulan, saya berharap Astro Radio akan mempertimbangkan untuk memperluaskan siaran Gegar ke Pahang Barat dengan memasang pemancar di Bukit Fraser, bagi membenarkan pendengar menerima siaran Gegar di Pahang Barat dengan melalui platform FM radio, dan juga bersaing dengan Manis FM.
Malaysia's English business radio station BFM 89.9 is not only available in Klang Valley, but it is available in Pahang, really?
The answer is YES! The transmission of BFM 89.9 from Gunung Ulu Kali covers large part of Pahang areas, mainly Temerloh, Bera, Chenor, Teriang, Benta, Kemayan, Kuala Lipis, Keratong, Muadzam Shah, Maran, Jengka, Raub, Bentong and Mentakab where these areas are under Gunung Ulu Kali services.
Cameron Highlands, Merapoh, Kuala Rompin, Beserah, Damak, Jerantut and Sungai Lembing are not covered by BFM 89.9MHz transmission, but BFM 89.9 is accessible in these areas via mobile app streaming or online.
But surprisingly BFM 89.9MHz is available in certain areas of East Pahang via FM radio, notably Gambang, Pekan and part of Kuantan.
Here are some videos from YouTube (BFM 89.9 in East Pahang):
According to the videos, BFM 89.9 reception in Pekan is clearer than Gambang, I believe there is less terrains in Pekan, so Gunung Ulu Kali transmission can go there well.
The reception of BFM 89.9MHz will not be interfered by Terengganu FM 90.0MHz from FELDA Cerul transmitter as Terengganu FM 90.0MHz is just gap filler transmitter to cover Cerul only. Maybe Terengganu FM 90.0MHz Cerul is clashed by BFM 89.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali around Kuantan.
Perhaps Kuantan has less commercial value to BFM 89.9, but the radio station still can be "survived" and "accessed" in selected areas of East Pahang (Kuantan, Pekan, Gambang) via radio without establishing Bukit Pelindung transmitter.
Tahukah anda? Best FM bukan sahaja boleh didengari di kawasan Pahang Barat dan Tengah pada 104.1MHz yang dipancar dari Gunung Ulu Kali, tetapi Best FM boleh diterima di kawasan Kuantan pada 102.5MHz dari Bukit Tinggi dimana 102.5MHz meliputi kawasan Johor Timur (Mersing).
Bukan sahaja Kuantan, kawasan Pekan juga boleh dapat Best FM pada 102.5MHz. Tanpa memasang pemancar di Bukit Pelindung, Best FM boleh dapat di Kuantan pada 102.5MHz. Kuatnya!
Saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kawan saya dari Kuantan untuk mengirimkan rakaman video ini, saya memuat naik video ini dengan kredit dia ke YouTube.
Untuk pendengar di Kuantan, dan Pekan, boleh mendengar siaran Best FM 102.5MHz. Video ini dirakam di Jalan Kuantan-Pekan. Selamat mencuba!
CityPlus FM is a Chinese business radio station which operated by Cense Media Sdn Bhd, it is sister radio station of Sabah Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz. CityPlus FM begins on air since May 2017, but for Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, part of Melaka/Pahang on 106.0MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok. In Kuching, CityPlus FM 92.5MHz went on air on May 2018, a year later than FM 106.0MHz CityPlus FM.
Kuching CityPlus FM 92.5MHz has different content and programmes from Peninsular Malaysia CityPlus FM 106.0MHz. This is because Kuching listeners taste and demand are hugely different from other regions of Malaysia, just like MY FM Sarawak has different contents from Peninsular Malaysia MY FM and Sabah MY FM.
In my opinion, CityPlus FM Kuching 92.5MHz has good direction by launching Kuching studio, but unfortunately the market in Kuching is small for this radio station. Kuching market is smaller than Penang.
For advertising revenue, Kupi-Kupi FM has more advertisers among Cense Media radio stations, which created largest revenue for the company. For City Plus FM, Klang Valley/Seremban 106.0 has better advertising revenue than Kuching 92.5. Maybe Kuching 92.5 is still new, so there is less advertisers.
In terms of radio coverage, CityPlus FM 92.5MHz is transmitted from Bukit Djin, which is far away lower than Gunung Serapi, but other commercial radio stations such as Tea FM, Astro, Media Prima and Bernama are also transmitted from Bukit Djin (also known as Bukit Antu) too. I have no idea why don't many broadcasters choose Gunung Serapi as transmission site for Kuching. Gunung Serapi has wider radio coverage than Bukit Djin for Kuching of Sarawak.
Compare with the coverage between Bukit Djin and Gunung Serapi, the population gain of Bukit Djin is smaller than Gunung Serapi.
In Kuching, Chinese are the second largest ethnic after Sarawak Malay, meanwhile Iban are no.3 largest, then Bidayuh is no.4.
It is common if a radio station has less revenue during first two years from operation day. Imagine if CityPlus FM 92.5MHz has less advertisers after two years from May 2018, CityPlus FM can go for tri-lingual radio station to make its Kuching market wider by launching Iban and Bidayuh segments.
By not affecting current CityPlus FM 92.5MHz Kuching Chinese programme line up, Iban and Bidayuh programmes can be launched on non-peak hours of the radio stations such as weekdays nights (from 8pm till 12am), then weekends morning till noon.
The most challenging thing is to hire presenters who can speak Ibanese and Bidayuh languages fluently.
Mainstream broadcasters (except RTM) so far never makes Sarawak ethnics radio stations, but small broadcast company can make it.
On weekends, CityPlus FM Kuching 92.5MHz plays non-stop Chinese music. To me, 92.5 can feature Iban and Bidayuh programs on weekends, maybe 3 hours per languages. For Iban and Bidayuh languages programs, they're not business talk, but entertainment oriented to provide more localized touch to Kuching market.
In conclusion, I may believe CityPlus FM 92.5MHz Kuching may get better revenue by featuring Iban and Bidayuh languages programs. Mandarin Chinese is still the mass language of CityPlus FM 92.5MHz, meanwhile Iban and Bidayuh can become niche one.
Maybe 60% Chinese, 20% Iban and 20% Bidayuh for programs division.
For those Iban and Bidayuh people who stay outside of CityPlus FM 92.5MHz Kuching coverage, they can listen online or download CityPlus FM mobile app. Besides that, they can download their favorite Ibanese and Bidayuh programmes podcasts. So, CityPlus FM 92.5MHz Kuching can gain revenue again by attracting advertisers to advertise on highest download rate podcast.
