Hitz (radio station)
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_logo.png){kind=logo} | |
| Broadcast area |
|
|---|---|
| RDS | HITZ |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English (Manglish) |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR), US Top 40 |
| Affiliations | Astro Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad |
| History | |
First air date | 12 October 1996 as HITZ (Astro's Channel 301) 1 January 1997 as HITZ (FM broadcasting) |
Last air date | 1 October 2023 (Hitz Sabah & Sarawak)[1] |
Former names | Hitz.FM (2001 - 2014) Hitz FM (2014 - 2017) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Syok TuneIn (Klang Valley) |
| Website | hitz |
Hitz (stylised as hitz on radio) is Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur's very first 24-hour English music radio station of Astro Radio a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad in Malaysia. It is a 24-hour radio station that plays English language contemporary hit radio focusing on hit songs showcases Top 40 and US Top 40 from Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and around the world. Hitz is the sole contemporary hit radio on the FM frequency band in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur after being one of Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network in October the year before. Hitz's official full launch took place as HITZ on 12 October 1996 as 24-hour music satellite radio in English and Hitz's official full launch took place as HITZ on New Year's Day 1997 at the stroke of midnight MYT as 24-hour music radio station in English after being one of Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network in October the year before. Its studio is currently at All Asia Broadcast Centre, Technology Park Malaysia, Lebuhraya Puchong-Sg. Besi, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The radio station's official tagline and slogan is "Malaysia's #1 Hit Music Station".
The radio station name was changed from Hitz.FM to Hitz FM in 2014. 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.[2] Hitz FM has a weekly audience of more than 2.2M listeners on radio.[3][better source needed] It targets listeners between the age of 10 to 29, according to Astro Radio.[citation needed] Hitz was officially similar and related to Capital based in Greater London, Capital London based in Greater London, Z100 New York based in New York metropolitan area, KIIS-FM based in Greater Los Angeles, Mediacorp 987 based in Singapore–Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District–Batam/Batam Islands, Prambors FM based in Jakarta metropolitan area, 99.5 Play FM based in Metro Manila and The Edge based in Auckland.
Extension[edit]
Hitz officially largest marked sign fully completed enjoys a majority largest position in the market and has naturally created many firsts in the Malaysian English/Manglish radio stations and broadcasting industry.
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour English radio station
- Malaysia's very fifth 24-hour radio station
- Malaysia's very second 24-hour music radio station
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour English music radio station
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour English hit music station
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour hit music station
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour English contemporary hit radio station
- Malaysia's very first 24-hour contemporary hit radio station
- Malaysia's very second music radio station
- Malaysia's very first English music radio station
- Malaysia's very first English hit music station
- Malaysia's very first hit music station
- Malaysia's very first English contemporary hit radio station
- Malaysia's very first contemporary hit radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) English radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) music radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) English music radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) English hit music station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) hit music station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) English contemporary hit radio station
- Malaysia's largest and number one (or number 1, no.1 and #1) contemporary hit radio station
History[edit]
12 October 1996 - HITZ alongside sister channels Light & Easy and Mix FM was among the very first commercial owned English language radio stations to broadcast in Malaysia was officially launched on same day as HITZ on Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network. HITZ opening on that day as contemporary hit radio focusing on hit songs showcases Top 40 and US Top 40. HITZ's official full launch took place as a 24-hour radio station that plays English language contemporary hit radio focusing on hit songs showcases Top 40 and US Top 40. The station started with eight DJs and the very first 24-hour English satellite radio in Malaysia of Astro Radio a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. It broadcast from All Asia Broadcast Centre, Technology Park Malaysia, Lebuhraya Puchong-Sg. Besi, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
New Year's Day 1997: At stroke of midnight MYT, Hitz's official full launch took place as a 24-hour radio station that plays English language contemporary hit radio focusing on hit songs showcases Top 40 and US Top 40 after being one of Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network in October the year before. The station started with eight DJs and the very first 24-hour English radio station in Malaysia of Astro Radio a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. It broadcast from All Asia Broadcast Centre, Technology Park Malaysia, Lebuhraya Puchong-Sg. Besi, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. HITZ was officially launched into Malaysian FM airwaves on same time. The radio network was officially formal full opening broadcast took place in Greater Kuala Lumpur (the surrounding areas Kuala Lumpur) and Peninsular Malaysia/West Malaysia (particularly Ipoh, Penang, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District), Batam/Batam Islands and Singapore with very first frequency broadcast on FM 92.9 MHz on that day based in Greater Kuala Lumpur (the surrounding areas Kuala Lumpur). This broadcast area was only limited to Greater Kuala Lumpur (the surrounding areas Kuala Lumpur) and Peninsular Malaysia/West Malaysia (particularly Ipoh, Penang, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District), Batam/Batam Islands and Singapore only and broadcasts in Greater Kuala Lumpur (the surrounding areas Kuala Lumpur) and Peninsular Malaysia/West Malaysia (particularly Ipoh, Penang, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District), Batam/Batam Islands and Singapore.
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] 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 16 May 2016.[4]
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 changed the name to Hitz FM.
On 1 January 2018, the station reverted to its original name as part of the Astro Radio's major rebranding project to focus on digital platforms. A new logo for Hitz was also unveiled during the rebranding.[5]
On 19 October 2020, Hitz ended their "Gotcha" calls after more than a decade. It was a popular prank call segment on the Hitz Morning Crew show hosted by Ean and Arnold.[6]
On 19 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.[7][8]
Beginning 18 June 2021, HITZ started streaming their radio webcast through YouTube live on its channel round the clock non-stop.[9]
On 1 October 2023, Astro Radio has stopped its operations in Sabah and Sarawak. Despite this move, radio broadcasts for ERA Sarawak and ERA Sabah continue as usual but operations moved back to Kuala Lumpur from 1 January 2024. The English language channel, Hitz Sabah and Hitz Sarawak broadcasts returned to Kuala Lumpur.[citation needed]
Frequency[edit]
Radio[edit]
| Frequencies | Broadcast area | Transmitter site |
|---|---|---|
| 92.9 MHz | Greater Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur) | Gunung Ulu Kali |
| 92.8 MHz | Alor Setar, Kedah and Perlis | Mount Jerai |
| Penang | ||
| Kota Bharu, Kelantan | Bukit Panau | |
| 92.4 MHz | Langkawi, Kedah | Gunung Raya |
| 93.6 MHz | Taiping, Perak | Bukit Larut |
| 92.7 MHz | Ipoh, Perak | Gunung Kledang |
| 95.0 MHz | Seremban, Negeri Sembilan | Gunung Telapak Buruk |
| 93.0 MHz | Malacca and Northern Johor | Mount Ledang |
| 97.6 MHz | Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District and Singapore | Mount Pulai |
| Batam City/Batam Island, Riau Islands, Indonesia | ||
| 93.2 MHz | Kuantan, Pahang | Bukit Pelindung |
| 94.8 MHz | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | Bukit Besar |
| 95.3 MHz | Kuching, Sarawak | Bukit Djin |
| 105.8 MHz | Miri, Sarawak | Bukit Lambir |
| 100.8 MHz | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | Bukit Karatong |
| 99.8 MHz | Sandakan, Sabah | Bukit Trig |
| 105.1 MHz | Sibu, Sarawak | Bukit Lima |
Internet radio[edit]
Broadcast online on SYOK website and APP
- HITZ TikTok
- HITZ Dance
- HITZ Urban
- HITZ Stage
- HITZ Top 40
- HITZ Local
- HITZ Throwback
- HITZ Chillest
- HITZ Kpop
Television[edit]
| Platform TV | Channel |
|---|---|
| Astro/Astro NJOI | 852 |
Slogan[edit]
Malaysia's #1 Hit Music Station
[edit]
| Radio station | Slogan, Motto and Tagline | Broadcast area |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | The UK's No.1 Hit Music Station | Greater London |
| Capital London | London's No.1 Hit Music Station | Greater London |
| Z100 New York | New York's #1 Hit Music Station | New York metropolitan area |
| KIIS-FM | Los Angeles' #1 Hit Music Station | Greater Los Angeles |
| Mediacorp 987 | Singapore's Number 1 Hit Music Station | Singapore–Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District–Batam/Batam Islands |
| Prambors FM | Indonesia's Number 1 Hit Music Station | Jakarta metropolitan area |
| 99.5 Play FM | Philippines' No.1 Hit Music Station | Metro Manila |
| The Edge | New Zealand's #1 Hit Music Station | Auckland |
References[edit]
- ^ Astro Radio Sabah goes off the air
- ^ "71% of Malaysians Listen to Astro Radio". Astro. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Our Brands | Astro Radio". Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Astro Hitz to be ceased on 16 May 2016". Astro B.yond Info. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ "With multiplatform the new reality, Astro Radio drops 'FM', refreshes 11 brands". Digital News Asia. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Radio DJ who laughed at science teacher's pronunciation 'taking a break' | Coconuts KL". Coconuts. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Radio deejay who laughed at teacher's English resigns". The Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Now Streaming on YouTube! Stream Live 24/7 at HITZ!". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
External links[edit]
 Radio stations of Malaysia by availability and languages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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