It is 15 years anniversary of now defunct English radio station, Red FM terminating two frequencies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Red FM was an English radio station operated by Star Media Group until September 2016 before being acquired by Astro Radio together with Capital FM.
I was Red FM's listeners from 2009 to 2012, this radio station was formerly known as RFM 91.5, RFM 104.9 and Red 104.9 between 1997 and 2008. Back to 2009, I listened to Red FM on 104.9MHz in Kuala Lumpur, meanwhile I would tune to 106.0MHz when I came to Negeri Sembilan (Mantin, Nilai and Seremban).
15 years ago, Red FM closed down Taiping frequency 98.2MHz, following by Seremban frequency 106.0MHz. Then, Red FM in Taiping and Seremban was tuned on 98.1MHz and 104.9MHz respectively, but the radio signal was not so clear. The main reason of Red FM terminated the transmission in these two locations was low listenership rating in Negeri Sembilan and interference in North Malaysia, let's read the background by frequency.
==Red FM 98.2MHz Taiping frequency==
* Transmitted from Bukit Larut at 1kW transmitter power, it was closed in May 2009 due to interference to the coverage of 98.1MHz Gunung Jerai transmitter in Kedah and Penang. Although Red FM could be tuned via 107.6MHz from Bukit Penara in the affected location where 98.1MHz Gunung Jerai and 98.2MHz Bukit Larut were interfering each other, but 98.2MHz Bukit Larut transmission badly interfered against 98.1MHz Gunung Jerai transmission in Kedah state.
* Star Radio Group increased transmission power of Red FM 98.1MHz Gunung Jerai transmitter to 10kW, then Red FM Taiping frequency 98.2MHz was terminated its transmission. As Red FM and 988 in Bukit Larut were sharing a RF combiner, 988 was forced to close down its Taiping frequency FM 101.0MHz for a year in order to dismantle the transmitter system of Red FM 98.2MHz from June 2009 to July 2010.
* After the termination of Red FM 98.2MHz Bukit Larut transmitter, Red FM's listeners had to tune on 98.1MHz from Gunung Jerai in Taiping. Although Penang frequency 107.6MHz from Bukit Penara could be received there, but the signal was less clearer than 98.1MHz Gunung Jerai.
* Although Red FM in Teluk Intan was covered by Gunung Kledang transmitter on the frequency 106.4MHz, but back to February 2009, I was used to receive Red FM Taiping frequency 98.2MHz from Bukit Larut in Teluk Intan while I was celebrating Chinese New Year in Teluk Intan, meanwhile RTM Klasik Nasional (now Radio Klasik) FM 98.3MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali was having interference.
* RDS text was "RED 104.9" when I tuned Red FM on 98.2MHz in Teluk Intan 15 years ago.
==Red FM 106.0MHz Seremban frequency==
* Transmitted from Gunung Telapak Buruk at 0.5kW transmitter power. I was used to tune this frequency from 2004 to 2009 randomly in Kuala Lumpur, Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Nilai, and Mantin, the audio of Red FM 106.0MHz was softer than 104.9MHz. back then.
* RDS text of Red FM 106.0MHz was "RED 104.9", but AF (alternative frequency" was malfunction as it was unable to switch to 104.9MHz automatically when Red FM 106.0MHz signal was weak in Kuala Lumpur.
* Red FM 106.0MHz Seremban frequency was terminated in June 2009 due to commercial reason. I guessed that it was due to poor radio listenership rating in Negeri Sembilan, causing Red FM to close down Negeri Sembilan frequency transmission. Since then, Negeri Sembilan listeners had to tune to Red FM on either 104.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali or 98.9MHz Gunung Ledang. The frequency license of 106.0MHz was returned to MCMC, and FM 106.0MHz was vacated in Negeri Sembilan until 25th October 2016. Then, Red FM Seremban frequency 106.0MHz was reused by a Chinese language business radio station CityPlus FM, and CityPlus FM is transmitted from Gunung Telapak Buruk at 1kW transmitter power.
* Red FM 104.9MHz was given 10kW transmitter power since May 2009, transmitted from Gunung Ulu Kali. Red FM could be tuned in Seremban on 104.9MHz, but less clear. Unlike Red FM, current Zayan FM 104.9MHz transmitter power is decreased to 2kW, ordered by MCMC.
After 5 years of Red FM Taiping and Seremban frequencies termination, Red FM ceased its Penang frequency transmission on 107.6MHz and the frequency was taken over by its sister radio station, Capital FM, but Red FM was still available in Penang on 98.1MHz.
Red FM was ceased transmission on 31st December 2015, then it was acquired by Astro Radio since September 2016 and rebranded as Zayan (Malay language Modern Muslim radio station) since October 2017. For Zayan, the listeners in Negeri Sembilan have to tune on either 104.9MHz or 98.9MHz, meanwhile Taiping is on 98.1MHz.
==Frequencies of Red FM Malaysia (currently known as Zayan)==
* 104.9MHz Klang Valley/South Perak/West Pahang (Gunung Ulu Kali)
* 98.1MHz Penang/Kedah/Perlis (Gunung Jerai)
* 106.4MHz Ipoh (Gunung Kledang)
* 98.9MHz Melaka/North Johor (Gunung Ledang)
* 92.8MHz Johor Bahru/Singapore (Gunung Pulai)
* 91.6MHz Kuantan/Kemaman (Bukit Pelindung)
==Former Red FM frequencies==
* 103.2MHz: Langkawi (Gunung Raya)- Closed since year 2000
* 101.2MHz: Tapah (Changkat Rembian)- Closed since year 2000
* 98.2MHz: Taiping (Bukit Larut) - Closed since May 2009
* 106.0MHz: Negeri Sembilan (Gunung Telapak Buruk)- Closed since June 2009
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