MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz ceased its broadcast since April 2022, listeners can continue tune to MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz and Pattani FM 91.0MHz in Narathiwat, Thailand.

 

Recently someone published a comment on my YouTube video of receiving Radio Thailand Narathiwat FM 98.25MHz in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia where credit to my friend.

The YouTube user, named Ooi Roax asked whether MCOT had ceased the broadcast of Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz or not, as he spotted there is no MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz in the provincial radio station list on MCOT official website.

 

I'm already left behind of Thailand radio station update as I don't follow and update the news regularly. I went to verify it by tracing any posts related to MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz switch off news at MCOT Narathiwat official Facebook page from March 2022 to May 2022.

From what I understand is MCOT Narathiwat did not officially announce that FM 96.0MHz in Narathiwat would be ceased broadcast actually, instead told the listeners and followers to tune to MCOT Radio via Yala FM 102.5MHz and Pattani FM 91.0MHz.

 

I believe MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz transmission was switched off around 10th April 2022. Until now, FM 96.0MHz is likely vacant frequency in Narathiwat and Kelantan, so it could be possible that FM 96.0MHz is permanently switched off.

Although I'm not really following MCOT so much, but I feel curious that why did MCOT shut down Narathiwat broadcast FM 96.0MHz, as Narathiwat is one of province in Southern Thailand.

However, I could guess the reasons:

1. MCOT might think that its radio station has less listeners in Narathiwat. Hence, commercially MCOT would close down Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz.

 

In addition, Narathiwat is Malay majority province. By comparing Radio Thailand Narathiwat FM 98.25MHz, Radio Thailand Yala FM 95.0MHz, Radio Thailand Sungai Golok FM 106.5MHz and other small scale community radio stations' Malay language local content, MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz has less Malay content than those radio stations, even it could have lesser Malay content than MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz.

2. In terms of coverage availability, the transmission of MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz can't cover the whole province, listeners in some of districts such as Rueso, Si Sakhon, Ja-Nae, Waeng and Sukhrin cannot receive MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz, even the signal is weak in some of areas within Sungai Golok, Tak Bai and Sungai Padi districts.

Meanwhile its neighboring provincial radio station, MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz is available in most of districts within Narathiwat province.

 

In Narathiwat, MCOT Radio service is available via Yala broadcast FM 102.5MHz, the signal is still clear.

3. If MCOT did not switch off Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz broadcast permanently, I think MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz may go for full transmission system upgrade.

The closure of MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz doesn't really affect its listeners in that province because they can tune to MCOT Radio via Yala FM 102.5MHz and Pattani FM 91.0MHz. In addition, I may believe MCOT integrate Narathiwat radio content into Yala FM 102.5MHz slot.

MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz transmission site is located at Khao Pok Yo where shares with Radio Thailand Yala and Thailand Parliament Radio Station. Due to its strategic transmission site, outside Yala province, MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz is also available in Pattani, Narathiwat, part of Songkhla, North Kelantan and part of Hulu Perak in Malaysia.

 

MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz is clearer than MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz in Kelantan areas of Malaysia such as Kota Bharu, Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, Machang, Pasir Puteh, Bachok and Kuala Krai, meanwhile MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz is only clear in Tumpat.

 

After MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz ceased its broadcast in 10th April 2022, meanwhile in Kelantan, Malaysia, the Chinese listeners can receive 988 on FM 96.1MHz from Gunung Jerai without interference.

 

In memory of MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz, here are some old videos which Senn Lens received MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.