Era (radio station)

Radio station in Kuala Lumpur

Era

* Kuala Lumpur

Broadcast area| Nationwide
Singapore (Era Johor)
Batam City/Batam Island (Era Johor)
Brunei (Era Sarawak)
Thailand (Era Kedah)
RDS| ERA
Programming
Languages| Malay
Format| Top 40 (CHR)
Affiliations| Astro Radio
Ownership
Owner| Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad

Sister stations

List

*     * Sinar
* Zayan
* THR Gegar
* Raaga
* My
* Melody
* GoXuan
* Hitz
* Mix
* Lite

History

First air date

| 1996; 29 years ago (1996) (Astro-only audio channel)
1998; 27 years ago (1998) (FM broadcasting)

Former names

| Era FM
(01.08.1998 - 31.12.2017)
Links
Webcast| Syok
TuneIn (Klang Valley and Kelantan)
Website| ERA

Era (stylized ERA on radio, formerly Era FM until 2017)[1] is a Malaysian Malay-language radio station operated by Astro Radio. The radio station broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Astro Radio's Bukit Jalil headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Era began in 1996 as an exclusive audio channel for Astro satellite users, before migrating to the FM band on 1 August 1998. Since its launch, it has played a wider mixture of music from the 1980s to present, and covers Malaysian and international pop genres. It also operates part-time opt-outs from Kuala Lumpur for audiences in Sabah and Sarawak, which downsized its respective local operations since 2023.[2]

In 2015, as according to Nielsen RAM Survey Wave #1, Era FM maintained its position as Malaysia's leading Malay-language station with over 4.8 million listeners.[3]

## History

[edit]

Era's flagship frequency slot, which is 103.3 FM in Klang Valley, was originally known as Classic Rock, one of the five radio stations first introduced by AMP Radio Networks along with Hitz FM, Mix FM, Light & Easy and TalkRadio (whose frequencies were taken over by My FM on 1 August that year). It launched on the 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. Over the one-year period, demand grew for radio content in Bahasa Malaysia, as listeners who were exposed to AMP's English brands wanted the same formats but in other major local languages. This compelled AMP to make changes to its line-up, swapping Classic Rock to Era FM, leaving Classic Rock as an Astro-only radio station.[4]

On 1 August 1998, Era FM went on air as the first private radio station to be broadcast completely in the Malay language, with "Hijau" by Zainal Abidin, which is a trademark for the radio station, being the first song to be played on the radio station, ending the monopoly of Malay-language radio stations run by state-run Radio RTM.

Era FM was once the leader in Malay-language FM radio stations, but has lost its popularity to its sister station, Sinar FM. In 2012, Era FM regained the top spot as the most popular radio station in Malaysia with close to 5 million listeners. Era FM is the first radio station in Malaysia to hold three records in the Malaysia Book Of Records since 1998.

On 2 January 2018, Era FM was rebranded to ERA in a move by Astro Radio to integrate multiple platforms beyond traditional radio.[1] At the same time, a new logo was also unveiled with the rebranding. Era announcer Haniff left the station on 31 July 2024; he last presented Petang Era until his resignation.[5]

### Era in East Malaysia

[edit]

Prior to 2000, like its main sister stations, Era FM did not have any stations in Sabah and Sarawak.

In 2010, Era FM began opt-out programming for Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, with their own studio and on-the-ground team in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, respectively; as well as local announcers and DJs conversing in Malay and different East Malaysian languages.

Between 2017 and 2018, Sabah and Sarawak opt-outs were upgraded to full-fledged local outlets, with all content originating from their respective capital cities 24 hours a day, and ending reliance with its Kuala Lumpur flagship during off-peak hours. Era FM Sabah became fully-local on 24 April 2017;[6] Era Sarawak followed suit on 22 January 2018.

#### Downsizing of ERA Sabah and ERA Sarawak

[edit]

On 30 Sepetember 2023, layoffs were imposed to local staffing in Sabah and Sarawak, which led to the end of five to six years of ERA's state-based feeds from Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, respectively.[7] The following day, all transmitters in East Malaysia carrying ERA were downgraded back into direct relays from Kuala Lumpur.

On 8 January 2024, ERA Sarawak and ERA Sabah partially reintroduced local programming, albeit with presenters originating from Bukit Jalil.

## Frequencies and availability

[edit]

ERA Frequencies

Frequencies  | Area  | Transmitter

|
|

103.3 MHz  | Klang Valley | Gunung Ulu Kali
Kota Bahru, Kelantan | Bukit Panau
103.6 MHz  | Perlis, Alor Setar, Kedah and Penang | Mount Jerai
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan | Mount Telapak Buruk
90.7 MHz  | Langkawi, Kedah | Gunung Raya
95.2 MHz  | Taiping, Perak | Bukit Larut
103.7 MHz  | Ipoh, Perak | Gunung Kledang
90.3 MHz  | Malacca | Mount Ledang
104.5 MHz  | Johor Bahru, Johor and Singapore | Mount Pulai
98.0 MHz  | Kuantan, Pahang | Bukit Pelindung
102.8 MHz  | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | Bukit Jerung

ERA Sarawak & ERA Sabah Frequencies

Frequencies  | Area  | Transmitter

|
|

96.1 MHz  | Kuching, Sarawak | Bukit Djin
96.3 MHz  | Sibu, Sarawak | Bukit Lima
101.3 MHz  | Miri, Sarawak and Belait District, Brunei | Bukit Lambir
102.4 MHz  | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | Bukit Karatong
103.0 MHz  | Sandakan, Sabah | Bukit Trig

### Internet radio

[edit]

Broadcast online on SYOK website and APP

* Era Nusantera
* Era Flow
* Era Cintan
* Era K-Hit
* Era Throwbaek
* Era Lagu Baru Nak Up
* Era Nurock
* Era Indie

### Television

[edit]

Platform TV  | Channel

|

Astro/Astro NJOI | 856

## Azan

[edit]

On 1 January 2018, this channel had no Azan (except Subuh for Ramadan and Maghrib), but in January 2022, this channel brought back Azan for all obligatory prayer time due to the new tagline "Muzik Hit Terkini" replacing "Muzik Hit Terbaik".

## In popular culture

[edit]

Era was parodised as Erron in Afdlin Shauki's 2004 film, Buli.

## Controversies

[edit]

### Religion mocking incident

[edit]

On 4 March 2025, ERA FM uploaded a video clip showing one of the morning presenters mocking a religious ritual, which is a scared Hindu kavadi dance ritual usually performed during Thaipusam. The video clip which were uploaded in social media have sparked outrage from the Malaysian Indian community.[8] The video clip were since taken down and the presenters have apologized for their mistakes and acknowledging the insensitivity of their actions.[9][10] This incident have caused all three morning presenters were been suspended from on-air host and being investigated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police including 3 staff members.[11][12]

## Similar radios

[edit]

* Trax FM/I-Radio in Indonesia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Astro Radio refreshes 11 brands to deliver better value to fans". Astro. 2 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
2. ^ Astro Radio Ceases Operation In Sabah & Sarawak, All Staff Given Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS)
3. ^ "71% of Malaysians Listen to Astro Radio". Astro. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
4. ^ "About AMP". Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
5. ^ Jefri, Najiy (31 July 2024). "Haniff tinggalkan Era FM, Ean undur diri dari Hitz FM". Harian Metro (in Malay).
6. ^ "Era fm: Full local content from April 24". Daily Express (Malaysia). 15 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
7. ^ Tan, Yu Ang (3 October 2023). "Astro Radio Ceases Operation In Sabah & Sarawak, All Staff Given Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS)". Weird Kaya. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024.
8. ^ "ERA FM faces strong backlash for mocking Thaipusam ritual". The Vibes. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
9. ^ Ram, Sadho (4 March 2025). "Era FM Apologises After Its DJs Were Seen Mocking The Sacred Thaipusam Kavadi Ritual". Says. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
10. ^ R. Sekaran (4 March 2025). "Astro Audio extends apology, removes DJs over video mocking religion". The Star. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
11. ^ Chandran, Adrian; Seraj, Zaf (4 March 2025). "Three Era FM DJs in hot water over viral video clip taken off the air". New Straits Times. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
12. ^ "IGP confirms radio hosts under criminal investigation for allegedly mocking Hinduism, six complaints filed". Malay Mail. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Astro Radio

* Astro All Asia Networks plc

Radio stations|

| Malay|

* Era
* Sinar
* THR Gegar
* Zayan

|

English|

* Hitz
* Mix
* Lite

Mandarin|

* My
* Melody
* goXuan

Tamil|

* Raaga

* v
* t
* e

Radio stations of Malaysia by availability and languages

Public

| Availability|

| National|

| English|

* TraXX FM

|

Malay|

* Radio Klasik
* Nasional FM

Chinese|

* Ai FM

Tamil|

* Minnal FM

Various|

* Asyik FM

Regional|

| Various|

* Bintulu FM
* Johor FM
* Kedah FM
* Kelantan FM
* Keningau FM
* KL FM
* Labuan FM
* Langkawi FM
* Limbang FM
* Melaka FM
* Miri FM
* Mutiara FM
* Negeri FM
* Pahang FM
* Perak FM
* Perlis FM
* Putra FM
* Red FM
* Sabah FM
* Sabah Vfm
* Sandakan FM
* Sarawak FM
* Selangor FM
* Sibu FM
* Sri Aman FM
* Tawau FM
* Terengganu FM
* UFM
* Wai FM
* Bernama Radio
* IKIM.fm

|

Commercial

| Availability|

| National|

| English|

* Fly FM
* Hitz
* Lite
* Mix

|

Malay|

* Era
* Kool 101
* Hot FM
* Sinar
* Suria
* Zayan

Chinese|

* goXuan
* Melody
* My
* 8FM
* 988 FM

Regional|

| English|

* BFM 89.9

|

Malay|

* Best FM
* Manis FM
* Molek FM
* THR Gegar

Chinese|

* City Plus FM
* TEA FM

Tamil|

* Raaga

Various|

* Bapakku.FM
* RADIOROSAK
* Cats FM
* Kupi-Kupi FM
* Rakita
* VOKFM

Defunct

* Capital FM 88.9
* FM Stereo Johor Bahru
* KK12FM
* Pi Mai FM
* Radio Free Sarawak
* Red FM
* THR.fm
* ULTRA 101.3FM
* Voice of Malaysia
* IM4U fm

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template