Hitz (radio station)

Malaysian national radio station

For the defunct United Kingdom radio station, see Hitz Radio. For the defunct Indonesian radio station, see PM2FGD.

Hitz

* Kuala Lumpur

Broadcast area| Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei
RDS| HITZ
Programming
Languages| English
Format| Top 40 (CHR), US Top 40
Affiliations| Astro Radio
Ownership
Owner| Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad

Sister stations

List

*     * Era
* Era Sabah
* Era Sarawak
* Sinar
* Zayan
* THR Gegar
* Raaga
* My
* Melody
* GoXuan
* Mix
* Lite

History

First air date

| 1 June 1996; 28 years ago (1996-06-01)

Last air date

| 1 October 2023; 16 months ago (2023-10-01) (Hitz Sabah & Sarawak)[1]

Former names

| Hitz.FM
(2001 - 2014)
Hitz FM
(2014 - 2017)
Links
Webcast| Syok
TuneIn (Klang Valley)
Website| hitz.com.my

Hitz (formerly Hitz FM, stylised as hitz on radio) is a Malaysian national radio station managed by Astro Radio, a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad. 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] The radio station's slogan is "Malaysia's #1 Hit Music Station."

## History

[edit]

January 1997: HITZ 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 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 ended its operations in Sabah and Sarawak. Hitz Sabah and Hitz Sarawak has since moved to Kuala Lumpur.[10]

Longtime announcer Ean left Hitz on 31 July 2024 after presenting the Hitz Morning Crew for more than 10 years.[11]

## Frequency

[edit]

Frequencies  | Area  | Transmitter

|
|

92.9 MHz  | Klang Valley | Gunung Ulu Kali
92.8 MHz  | Perlis, Alor Setar, Kedah and Penang | Mount Jerai
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 | Mount Telapak Buruk
93.0 MHz  | Malacca | Mount Ophir
97.6 MHz  | Johor Bahru, Johor Singapore | Mount Pulai
93.2 MHz  | Kuantan, Pahang | Bukit Pelindung
94.8 MHz  | Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu | Bukit Jerung
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]

Note: Internet radio broadcast online on SYOK website and SYOK App.

* Hitz TikTok
* Hitz Dance
* Hitz Urban
* Hitz Workout
* Hitz Top 40
* Hitz Local
* Hitz Throwback
* Hitz Chillest
* Hitz Kpop

### Television satellite

[edit]

* Astro: Channel 852

## Similar radios

[edit]

* Prambors in Indonesia
* 987FM in Singapore, which covers some southern parts of Johor

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Astro Radio Sabah goes off the air
2. ^ "71% of Malaysians Listen to Astro Radio". Astro. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
3. ^ "Our Brands | Astro Radio". Retrieved 11 August 2021.
4. ^ "Astro Hitz to be ceased on 16 May 2016". Astro B.yond Info. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
5. ^ "With multiplatform the new reality, Astro Radio drops 'FM', refreshes 11 brands". Digital News Asia. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ "Radio DJ who laughed at science teacher's pronunciation 'taking a break' | Coconuts KL". Coconuts. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
8. ^ "Radio deejay who laughed at teacher's English resigns". The Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
9. ^ "Now Streaming on YouTube! Stream Live 24/7 at HITZ!". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ Jefri, Najiy (31 July 2024). "Haniff tinggalkan Era FM, Ean undur diri dari Hitz FM". Harian Metro (in Malay).

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* HITZ stream on YouTube
* HITZ Xcelerate on Mixcloud

* 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