Astro Radio

Astro Radio Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Airtime Management and Programming Sdn Bhd or 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 10 private radio stations which are transmitted through the FM (frequency modulation) radio spectrum. As of November 2021, Astro Radio still remains as the number one and largest radio network company in Malaysia with 77.7% of Peninsular Malaysians and 15.6 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 1 in October 2021.[1] ERA being at top of the list with the most audience reach estimated at 6,000,000 listeners, followed by SINAR and GEGAR.

Astro Radio
FormerlyAMP Radio Networks
(1996 - 2012)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryRadio Network, Broadcasting
PredecessorAirtime Management & Programming Sdn Bhd
(AMP Radio Networks)
Founded1996 (1996)
HeadquartersAll Asia Broadcast Centre,
Technology Park Malaysia,
Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Area served
Key people
Kenny Ong Chun Eng
Chief executive officer
Brands
ParentAstro Malaysia Holdings Berhad
Websiteastroradio.com.my

Company background

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

Airtime Management & Programming Radio Network Sdn Bhd (AMP Radio Networks) operates eight terrestrial FM networks: Era FM, MY FM, Hitz FM, Mix FM, LiteFM, Sinar FM, Melody FM & THR (Raaga and 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), 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.

AMP develops complementary platforms including on-air, on-ground, on-line and mobile technologies.

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 and Zayan for a new generation of smart, technology and socially connected along with the new generation of listeners who are trendsetters and influencers in the digital and social media space. Zayan is the first Malaysian radio brand for modern Muslims, it aspires to serve this growing community by delivering music, content and dialogue that reverberates among them. While goXUAN goes where the trendsetting Chinese Gen Z are making their mark. Astro Radio has built a state of art live broadcast studio from which the brand will stream live entertainment content via its digital platforms throughout the whole day. Unlike any other radio brand in Malaysia, 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, inline with the current technology development.

"...Over the years, social media has proven to be a great platform to engage with our fans. Delivering content in this digital age means; engaging with our fans through various interactive platforms that drive talkability and social engagement. Platforms like these enable us to build a community of fans centered on tastemakers, such as our own talent who are household names.”[3]

— Jake Abdullah, former Chief Executive Officer of Astro Radio.

Other brands

Raku

Astro Radio launched a radio and music streaming service platform known as Raku in April 2015 through mobile and web. Raku is a short-form for Radio Aku (‘My Radio’ in Bahasa Malaysia). 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, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil. However, Raku services were rebranded into the new SYOK platform in 2019.[4]

SYOK

Astro Radio launched a multilingual entertainment and lifestyle platform known as SYOK in July 2019. The platform can allow users to listen to 26 Astro Radio brands (including online-only stations or Direct-To-Home [DTH] stations that are available on Astro TV, and East Malaysian stations) 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.[5][6]

  • ERA (including both Sabah and Sarawak stations)
  • SINAR
  • GEGAR
  • ZAYAN
  • MY (including both Sabah and Sarawak stations)
  • MELODY
  • GOXUAN
  • HITZ (including both Sabah and Sarawak stations)
  • MIX
  • LITE
  • RAAGA
  • Syok Original Radio
    • Bayu
    • Gold
    • India Beat
    • Jazz
    • Kenyalang
    • Opus
    • Osai
    • Classic Rock
  • News, Sports & Talk (Online only)

SYOK also offered pop-up stations, featuring tracks for some occasions, such as Public holidays in Malaysia. In addiction, they also provide Featured Radio, which include partnered radio stations such as Red Radio (in partnership with AirAsia), Rakita, AFO RADIO, and ABS-CBN (TeleRadyo, MOR Entertainment and MyxRadio).

Stations
StationExplanationLanguageYear of LaunchAstro Channel
HitzThe 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.English1996852
LiteThe 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.English1996854→
MixThe station plays adult contemporary music from the 90s and now, targeting listeners between the ages of 25 and 39.English1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1997 (as an FM radio station)855
EraThe 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.Malay1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station)856
MyChinese songs for all ages. Formerly known as Chuan Zhen Xin Qu Tai (傳真心曲台) during the early years of broadcast.Chinese1996 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 1998 (as an FM radio station)853
SinarThe oldest and latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on mature listeners. Formerly known as Wirama Melayu during the early years of broadcast.Malay1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel) , 2004 (as an FM radio station)857
GegarA Malay-language radio station targeting the East Coast area.Malay1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition)863
RaagaAstro Radio's only Tamil-language radio station, targeting the West Coast area.Tamil1994 (original, as THR), 2005 (acquisition)859
MelodyThe oldest and latest songs, focused on mature listeners.Chinese1998 (as an Astro-only audio channel), 2012 (as an FM radio station)858
Go XuanThe latest songs and digital-first Chinese entertainment, focused on young listeners.Chinese2017877
ZayanThe latest songs from domestic and international repertoire, focused on modern and contemporary Muslim listeners.Malay2017876

Defunct radio stations

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.

StationExplanation Language Year of Launch
Classic RockThe oldest and latest songs from rock music. However, it continues to be broadcast on Astro and via online only. English 1997
TalkRadioNews and talk radio show; ceased broadcasting in 1998 English 1997
XFMSongs 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

References
  1. "Post Survey 2021 S1 | Astro Radio". astroradio.com.my. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  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
  4. "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.
  5. "Astro Radio introduces SYOK app, Everything Got!". Marketing Magazine. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. "Syok Official website".
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