List of Media Prima (Ripple) radio stations which are not available in certain territories like competitor.

 

Ripple (formerly known as Media Prima Networks) currently owns Fly FM, Hot FM, One FM and Kool FM. Due to its lineup, I call it as FHOK (Fly + Hot + One + Kool) as short form term. 

 

Among all its radio stations, in terms of broadcast coverage, Hot FM is the most completed radio station as it has transmitters as much as its competitor, Era (except Langkawi, Miri, Sandakan and Sibu). 10 years ago, Hot FM added Taiping on the frequency 90.5MHz from Bukit Larut, and the coverage was completed.

 

Meanwhile, Fly FM, One FM and Kool FM coverage are not completed as Hot FM due to certain reasons.

 

So, I compare Fly FM, One FM and Kool FM with Hot FM in terms of coverage availability.

 

1. Fly FM

* Taiping: Not available (but receivable on FM 89.9MHz from Penang Bukit Penara)

* Kota Kinabalu: Not available

* Kuching: Not available

 

2. One FM

* Taiping: Not available (but receivable on FM 87.8MHz from Gunung Jerai)

* Kota Bharu: Not available

* Kuala Terengganu: Not available  

 

One FM is not available in Kota Bharu, and Kuala Terengganu as Hot FM, Fly FM and Kool FM because these two towns have no commercial value to One FM. In addition, Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu are not Chinese market town as they're Malay majority areas.

 

3. Kool FM

*  Taiping: Not available (but receivable on FM 90.2MHz from Penang Bukit Penara)

* Ipoh: Not available

* Kuantan: Not available

* Kota Kinabalu: Not available

* Seremban: Not available

* Melaka: Not available

* Johor Bahru: Not available 

 

For Kool FM case, I understand that the radio station is unable to expand broadcast coverage on FM frequencies due to unavailability of spectrum at the moment. 

 

If I compare the coverage availability between Ripple and Astro Radio in overall, all of its radio stations have no additional frequencies in Langkawi, Sibu, Miri and Sandakan. 

 

I don't think Ripple will expand coverage to Sibu, Miri and Sandakan in Borneo states as Hot FM, and One FM doesn't have localized branch in Sabah and Sarawak like what their competitors did.

 

For now, technically all Ripple radio stations are available nationwide, but on MYTV DVB-T2 Lite platform. Listeners can tune to Fly FM, One FM, Kool FM and Hot FM on MYTV alternatively, even online streaming, mobile app and YouTube as digital listening platforms.

 

As I wrote previous article, under brand new management team of Ripple who are former talents of Astro Radio, in order to compete against Hitz and MY from Astro Radio, I doubt Ripple will expand coverage to Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu for One FM, meanwhile Kota Kinabalu and Kuching for Fly FM in the future or not.