Hitz (radio station)

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This article is about a Malaysian radio station. It is not to be confused with Hitz Radio, a former defunct United Kingdom radio station.
This article is about a Malaysian radio station. It is not to be confused with PM2FGD, a defunct Indonesian radio station.

HITZ
Hitz (Malaysian radio station) logo.png
Logo since 2018
CityKuala Lumpur
Kota Kinabalu
Kuching
Broadcast areaMalaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Southern Thailand
Frequency92.9 MHz Hitz Peninsular Malaysia (Klang Valley)
100.8 MHz Hitz Sabah (Kota Kinabalu)
95.3 MHz Hitz Sarawak (Kuching)
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTalk, Top 40 (CHR)
Ownership
OwnerAstro Holdings Sdn Bhd, under Astro Radio
Era, Gegar, GoXuan, Lite, Melody, Mix, MY, Raaga, Sinar and Zayan
History
First air date
January 1997 (1997-01) (Hitz Peninsular Malaysia)

October 2010 (2010-10) (Hitz Sarawak)

December 2010 (2010-12) (Hitz Sabah)
Former names
Hitz FM (1997-2001)

Hitz.FM (2001-2014) (with a dot)

Hitz FM (2014-2018)

Links
Webcastlisten.hitz.com.my
Websitehitz.com.my

HITZ (as Hitz FM on radio) is a Malaysian national radio station managed by Astro Radio, a subsidiary of Astro Holdings Berhad. The radio station name was changed from Hitz.FM to Hitz FM in 2014. The radio has regional stations in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. In 2015, as according to Nielsen RAM Survey Wave #1, Hitz FM maintained its position as Malaysia's leading English-language station with over 1.2 million listeners.[1] Hitz FM is famously known among Malaysians as they have the most excellent English speaking announcers, with a weekly reach of more than 2.2M listeners on radio.[2] It targets listeners between the age of 10 to 29 according to Astro Radio. The station accompanies fans throughout their day, playing the best new music all day long with exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to the stars.

History[]

January 1997 - HITZ FM was launched into Malaysian FM airwaves in January 1997 after being one of Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network in October the year before.

2000 - the Malaysian Top 10 (later renamed Malaysian English Top 10) was introduced, airing every Sundays at 4pm to bring the limelight into local Malaysian music which would suit the tastes of hitz fm's listeners, especially indie acts.

April 2001: HITZ FM undergoes rebranding as Hitz.FM (with a dot), introduces new online features like webcasts of their on-air announcers in action and radio streaming.

In August 2003, a rift between Li'l Kev and the management of AMP (Airtime Management and Programming) over the contract between them caused him and FlyGuy to leave Hitz.FM abruptly.[citation needed] Jason Lo and Rudy Sufian were called up to fill in their places and eventually became the new Morning Crew. (Later, Lo switched time slots with JJ Fernandez for the drive-home slot). Later in the same year, HITZ.TV (Astro Hitz) was launched as a complement to the radio channel until it ceased broadcasting on the 16th of May 2016.[3]

2005: The introduction of the hitz fm Malaysian English Top 10 Awards to "honour the best of Malaysian English-singing musical talent and compositions".

2008: Rudy announced his decision to give up his morning show, confessing to having problems getting up in the mornings and needed to change his work pattern.[citation needed] Ean (real name Tengku Mohd Ean Nasrun) takes his place alongside JJ following the resignation until 2016.

September 2010: Hitz.FM was launched alongside its respective Malay and Chinese counterparts Era FM and My FM in East Malaysia - the three channels began broadcasting in Kuching on 25 October of that year followed by Kota Kinabalu on 1 December.

2014: Hitz.FM was rebranded again, this time it reverted to its original name, Hitz FM.

On 1 January 2018, the station, along with 10 other radio stations dropped the suffix "FM" from its brand name as part of the Astro Radio’s major rebranding project to focus on digital platform. A new logo of Hitz was also unveiled during the rebranding.[4]

On the 19th of October 2020, Hitz finally put an end to their "Gotcha" calls after more than a decade of entertaining Malaysians of all ages nationwide. It was a popular prank call segment on the Hitz Morning Crew show hosted by Ean and Arnold.[5]

On the 19th of February 2021, Yusuf Shukri (widely known as Yusuf), an announcer from HITZ Sarawak received backlash and condemnation when he uploaded a video on his personal TikTok account that belittled the English intonation of a Science teacher, Rafidah Rahmat about human reproduction in the newly launched DidikTV channel by the Ministry of Education. Following the incident, Yusuf was suspended from his duties by Hitz and Astro Radio's management board while they investigate the matter. He then apologized for the outrageous action caused by him through a video posted on his Instagram.Three days later, Hitz accepted his resignation and have confirmed that Yusuf has resigned from his role as an announcer, the station did not elaborate on findings from an internal inquiry it launched after that deleted TikTok video of Yusuf.[6][7]

Beginning 18th June 2021, HITZ started streaming their radio webcast through YouTube live on its channel round the clock non-stop.[8]

On the first week of August 2021, the station changed its radio jingles/sweepers on the radio to "Hitz FM" as well as "Malaysia's Number 1 Hit Music Station" (along with its sister stations, Mix and Lite). Therefore, hinting that the radio station itself might go through another rebranding in the near future.

Radio announcers[9][]

HITZ[]

  • Arnold Loh
  • Ean Nasrun
  • Calista Leah Liew
  • Zher Peen
  • Keanu Azman

HITZ Sabah[]

  • Arka Abdulqader
  • Samantha Payne

HITZ Sarawak[]

  • Asyilah Tan
  • Lanny Ho
  • Zach Ryan

Former Announcers[]

  • Ryan Matjeraie (2013-2016)
  • Juanita Ramayah (2013-2018)
  • Adam Izzy (2014-2017)
  • Sher Mohamed (2013-2016)
  • Jin Lim/Jinnyboy (2007-2015)
  • Natalie Kniese
  • Hunny Madu (2007–2008)
  • Jayaram Gopinath Nagaraj (2003–2008)
  • Rudy Sufian (2003–2008)
  • Azura Zainal (2006–2007)
  • Marion Caunter (2006—2007)
  • Brian Vinesh (2005—2007)
  • Jason Lo (2003–2007)
  • Pietro Ambrose Felix (2005—2006)
  • Serena Choong (2000—2006)
  • Fabian Jesse James/Phat Fabes (1999–2006)
  • Johan Farid Khairuddin (2001—2004)
  • Kevin Arokiasamy/Li'l Kev (1997–2003)
  • Saufian Mokhtar/FlyGuy (1997–2003)
  • Anushia Kanagasabai (1997–2002)
  • John Boy (1997–1999, 2001)
  • Mesh Nair (1997–2004)
  • Ross Yusof (1997–2004)
  • Farouk Khan (1997)
  • Adam Carruthers/Adam C
  • Jay R. Smith (2016-2018)
  • Melissa Th'ng
  • Ryan Augustine De Alwis/RD
  • Yusuf Shukri (Yusuf)
  • Khalif Sultan (2016-2019)

Frequencies[]

Frequencies Broadcast area Transmitter site
92.4 MHz Langkawi, Kedah Gunung Raya
92.7 MHz Ipoh, Perak Gunung Kledang
92.8 MHz Alor Setar, Kedah, Perlis and Penang Gunung Jerai
92.8 MHz Kota Bharu, Kelantan Bukit Panau
92.9 MHz Klang Valley Gunung Ulu Kali
93.0 MHz Malacca and North Johor Gunung Ledang
93.2 MHz Kuantan, Pahang Bukit Pelindung
93.6 MHz Taiping, Perak Bukit Larut
94.8 MHz Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Bukit Besar
95.0 MHz Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Gunung Telapak Buruk
95.3 MHz Kuching and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Bukit Djin
97.6 MHz Johor Bahru, Johor and Singapore Gunung Pulai
99.8 MHz Sandakan, Sabah Bukit Trig
100.8 MHz Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Bukit Karatong
105.1 MHz Sibu, Sarawak Bukit Lima
105.8 MHz Miri, Sarawak Bukit Lambir

(Via satellite TV)

Notes: Hitz Sabah and Hitz Sarawak are not available via Astro satellite TV.

Gallery[]

  • Logo from 2001 to 2013

  • Logo from 2013 to 2018

  • Flat logo version of Hitz FM

References[]

  1. ^ "71% of Malaysians Listen to Astro Radio". Astro. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Our Brands | Astro Radio". Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Astro Hitz to be ceased on 16 May 2016". Astro B.yond Info. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. ^ "With multiplatform the new reality, Astro Radio drops 'FM', refreshes 11 brands". Digital News Asia. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ Dorall, Anne. "HITZ Finally Puts An End To Gotcha Calls After 10 Years, A Fight, & A Bit Of Drama | TRP". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Radio DJ who laughed at science teacher's pronunciation 'taking a break' | Coconuts KL". Coconuts. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Radio deejay who laughed at teacher's English resigns". The Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Now Streaming on YouTube! Stream Live 24/7 at HITZ!". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  9. ^ "HITZ Crew". hitz.com.my. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""