Buletin FM closed its Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu frequencies, Hot FM Kota Bharu frequency changed to 88.6MHz. Media Prima Audio is going to launch fifth radio station as East Coast Malay radio station?

Photo credit to Harian Metro

On 2nd August 2021, Media Prima Audio (MPA) had rebranded Kool FM to Buletin FM as Malay language news and talk radio station, it broadcasts in Klang Valley on FM 101.3MHz (excluding South Perak, North Selangor and West Pahang), Penang on FM 90.2MHz, Alor Setar on FM 107.3MHz, Kuala Terengganu on FM 93.6MHz, Kota Bharu on FM 88.6MHz and Kuching on FM 104.3MHz.

 

After 4 months of rebranding exercise from Kool FM to Buletin FM, Media Prima Audio (MPA) radio station Buletin FM closes down its frequencies in Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu today.

 

FM 88.6MHz becomes Hot FM in Kota Bharu, meanwhile Hot FM original Kota Bharu frequency FM 105.1MHz goes under trial transmission.

 

Buletin FM 93.6MHz in Kuala Terengganu also goes under trial transmission.

 

When Hot FM Kota Bharu frequency is changed from 105.1MHz to 88.6MHz, its other frequencies remain same.

 

If you hear the radio stations in Kota Bharu on FM 105.1MHz and Kuala Terengganu on FM 93.6MHz, the trial transmission playlist includes East Coast Malay traditional music (eg: Dikir Barat) and speaks East Coast Malay dialect. I think Media Prima Audio will launch fifth radio station to target East Coast Malay market. In my opinion, MPA's fifth radio station will compete against Gegar (Astro Radio) and Manis FM.

To me, it is a good move that Media Prima Audio ceases Buletin FM Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu frequencies transmission because these two towns have no potential market value for Buletin FM. In addition, I do learn and realize that talk radio stations (regardless any languages) don't have market value in East Coast, even Bernama Radio does not have any frequencies in East Coast region.

 

East Coast listeners prefer listening to music and entertainment radio stations, even for Malay listeners, they love tuning localized content radio stations than nationwide radio stations. Example:

1. THR Gegar

2. Manis FM

3. RTM Terengganu FM

4. RTM Kelantan FM

5. RTM Pahang FM

I was thinking if Media Prima Audio transfers Buletin FM's Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu frequencies to Chinese radio station 8FM, it doesn't work because Kelantan and Terengganu have no commercial value to 8FM, somewhat Chinese people are very less there.

 

About the launching date of Media Prima Audio's 5th radio station, it is unknown yet because today is the first day of trial transmission in Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu.

 

Kuantan frequency may be added later.

 

Here are the latest Media Prima Audio's radio stations frequencies in Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu:

 

==Fly FM==

* 107.4MHz: Kota Bharu (remain unchanged)

* 107.5MHz: Kuala Terengganu (remain unchanged)

 

==Hot FM==

* 88.6MHz: Kota Bharu (changed from 105.1MHz)

* 105.0MHz: Kuala Terengganu (remain unchanged)

 

==MPA's fifth radio station (test transmission)==

* 105.1MHz: Kota Bharu

* 93.6MHz: Kuala Terengganu

 

Buletin FM can be tuned in Kelantan and Terengganu on digital platform such as YouTube, JOOX, MYTV myFreeview and AUDIO+ app even its frequencies there are ceased today.