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Astro Radio

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Astro Radio
FormerlyAMP Radio Networks
(1996–2012)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRadio network, Broadcasting
PredecessorAirtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd.
Founded
  • 1996; 28 years ago (1996) (Astro Radio Peninsular Malaysia)
  • 2010; 14 years ago (2010) (Astro Radio East Malaysia)
Defunct
  • 2023; 1 year ago (2023) (Astro Radio East Malaysia)
HeadquartersAll Asia Broadcast Centre,
Technology Park Malaysia,
Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Area served
Brands
ParentAstro Malaysia Holdings Berhad
Websiteastroradio.com.my

Astro Radio (formerly known as Airtime Management and Programming or simply AMP Radio Networks) is a Malaysian radio network company which operates radio broadcasting services and more since 1996. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. Astro Radio owns and manages 13 private radio stations which are transmitted through the FM (frequency modulation) radio spectrum.

As of November 2024, Astro Radio still remains the number one and largest radio network company in Malaysia, with 72% of Peninsular Malaysians and 14.9 million listeners tuning in to its stations weekly, together with its Media Prima counterpart, Media Prima Audio, according to the GfK Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) Wave 2 in November 2024. Era being at top of the list with the most audience reach estimated at 4.8 million listeners, followed by Sinar and current ever-growing MY.[1]

Company background

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Astro Radio was officially launched on 1 June 1996 as Airtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd. with the very first time five opened audio only including Hitz, Mix, Light & Easy, Classic Rock and TalkRadio.

Airtime Management and Programming Sdn. Bhd. (now AMP Radio Networks) operates eight terrestrial FM networks: Era FM, MY FM, Hitz FM, Mix FM, LiteFM, Sinar FM, Melody FM & THR.fm (now THR Raaga and THR Gegar). AMP broadcasts in four languages with 11.5 million Malaysians tuning in weekly.

AMP is the sole provider of 19 satellite radio services (which include the nine FM services and are available to all Astro subscribers in Malaysia and Brunei), and is the first South-East Asian broadcaster to utilise LIU (local insertion units) for local or regional advertisers and utilises Dynamic RDS (Radio Data System) as a commercial tool. Internationally, AMP also had involvement in the growth of radio industries in India, Indonesia and China.

In 2012, as part of the expansion of its operations, AMP Radio Networks became Astro Radio Sdn. Bhd.

In October 2017, Astro Radio announced the launch of two new radio brands - goXuan FM and Zayan FM intended for a new generation of listeners in the digital and social media space. Zayan is the first Malaysian radio brand for modern Muslims, and GoXuan follows Gen Z trends. Astro Radio streams live entertainment content via its digital platforms all day. goXUAN is visually-led.[2]

On 1 January 2018, Astro Radio dropped the suffix “FM” as part of the rebranding for all its 11 radio stations, to focus on digital platform and "drive talkability and social engagement".[3]

Move to Bukit Jalil

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In October 2023, HITZ and MY broadcasts for Sabah and Sarawak were completely stopped by Astro Radio and were returned to its headquarters in Bukit Jalil.[4][5]

In January 2024, ERA Sabah and ERA Sarawak officially started broadcasting from its headquarters in Bukit Jalil.[6]

Other brands

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Raku

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Astro Radio launched a radio and music streaming service platform known as Raku and then DVR Player in April 2015 through mobile and web. Raku is a short-form for Radio Aku (‘My Radio’ in Malay). Through Raku, Malaysians can stream millions of songs, videos and playlists curated by top local artistes including Yuna, Paper Plane Pursuit, Dasha Logan and many more. Users can also listen to more than 20 live radio stations through the free and premium versions of Raku. The application also provides local community updates such as articles, news, traffic, and sports. Raku is available in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. However, Raku services were rebranded into the new Syok platform in 2019.[7]

Syok

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Astro Radio launched a multilingual entertainment and lifestyle platform known as Syok, stylised as SYOK in July 2019. The platform can allow users to listen to 26 Astro Radio brands (including online-only stations or, until 2024, some of the Direct-To-Home [DTH] stations that are available on Astro TV) via live online streaming, listen to podcasts of all live radio and exclusive content, watch original short-form videos, read current articles, news and traffic updates and participate in contests.[8]

Stations

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Station Explanation Language Year of Launch Astro Channel
Hitz The latest English songs, focused on younger listeners. Rebranded, with a dot, in 2001. One of the first radio channels by AMP to be launched in 1996. English 1996 852
Lite The oldest and latest songs for mature listeners. It was previously known as Light & Easy. One of the first radio channels by AMP to be launched in 1996. English 1996 854→
Mix The station plays adult contemporary music from the 90s and now, targeting listeners between the ages of 25 and 39. English 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1997 (as an FM radio station) 855
Era The latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on younger listeners. This radio station is the first private radio station, to be broadcast completely in Malay, after being dominated by government-owned radio station for years. Malay 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station) 856
My Chinese songs for all ages. Formerly known as Chuan Zhen Xin Qu Tai (傳真心曲台) during the early years of broadcast. Chinese 1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station) 853
Sinar The oldest and latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on mature listeners. Formerly known as Wirama Melayu during the early years of broadcast. Malay 1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel) , 2004 (as an FM radio station) 857
Gegar A Malay-language radio station targeting the East Coast area. Malay 1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition) 863
Raaga Astro Radio's only Tamil-language radio station, targeting the West Coast area. Tamil 1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition) 859
Melody The oldest and latest songs, focused on mature listeners. Chinese 1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 2012 (as an FM radio station) 858
Go Xuan The latest songs and digital-first Chinese entertainment, focused on young listeners. Chinese 2017 877
Zayan The latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on modern and contemporary Muslim listeners. Malay 2017 876

Defunct radio stations

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AMP changed its line-up, swapping two of its English FM brands, namely Classic Rock and TalkRadio, for ERA FM (Bahasa Malaysia) and MY FM (Chinese), respectively. Melody FM was launched on 15 August 2012 to replace XFM on FM and Astro.

Station Explanation Language Year of Launch
Classic Rock The oldest and latest songs from rock music. However, it continues to be broadcast on Astro and via online only. English 1997
TalkRadio News and talk radio show; ceased broadcasting in 1998 English 1997
XFM Songs from Malaysian artists only, focused on younger listeners. However, it continues to be broadcast as an online station before ceased broadcasting in 2017 Malay 2004
Hitz Sabah This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by Hitz. English 2010
Hitz Sarawak This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by Hitz. English 2010
My Sabah This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by My. Mandarin 2010
My Sarawak This radio station was discontinued on 1 October 2023 and its frequency was taken over by My. Mandarin 2010

References

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  1. ^ "Saluran Radio Astro ERA FM , HITZ & MY FM Kekal Relevan Pilihan Nombor 1 Rakyat Malaysia" (Press release) (in Malay). Astro Malaysia Holdings. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Astro Radio launches two new brands for its 15.4 million weekly listeners". RadioInfo Asia. 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Astro Radio refreshes 11 brands". RadioInfo Asia. 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ Tan, Yu Ang (3 October 2023). "Astro Radio Ceases Operation In Sabah & Sarawak, All Staff Given Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS)". WeirdKaya.
  5. ^ Jefri, Najiy (3 October 2023). "Hitz FM, MY FM henti operasi berpangkalan di Sabah". Harian Metro (in Malay).
  6. ^ Aizad, Syazwan (9 January 2024). "ERA Sabah dan ERA Sarawak Perkenal Barisan Personaliti, Segmen Baru". Syok (in Malay).
  7. ^ "RAKU, a music & radio streaming mobile app from Astro". MalaysianWireless. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Astro Radio introduces SYOK app, Everything Got!". Marketing Magazine. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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