Radio

Overview

The Singapore radio scene has been constantly evolving since the country launched its first
radio station in 1936. The medium is undergoing a renewal process – transitioning from
analogue to digitized modes of transmission, enabling listeners to receive crystal clear
quality sound. Today, listeners can even tune into radio stations via the Internet. With the
industry flourishing, listeners in Singapore can choose from a wide range of radio stations
operated by both local and foreign broadcasters like MediaCorp Radio, SAFRA Radio
(English and Chinese), SPH Unionworks (English and Chinese), Rediffusion and BBC
Radio. To ensure that programmes broadcast are of high quality and acceptable to the
majority of listeners, the MDA has put in place programme and advertising guidelines for
radio broadcasters.

For more information on radio in Singapore, click:

 Digital Radio
 FTA Analogue Radio
 Radio Programme Code (PDF/150KB)
 Subscription Radio
 Vehicle Radio Licence
 Guidelines for Film and Video Promotional Materials on Radio (PDF/256KB)

Digital Radio

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) has given radio listeners here many benefits. From
crystal-clear sound quality to the ability to retrieve current information - these are some of
the features radio listeners have been enjoying.

DAB has been identified as a key technology that will propel the Singapore radio industry
into the digital age. Singapore has adopted the Eureka-147 Digital Audio Broadcasting
System, the standard recommended by International Telecommunication Union for
worldwide adoption.

Singapore launched the first commercial digital radio service, Digital Radio, on 19 November
1999, making this country the first to provide commercial digital radio services in South
East Asia. Currently, Digital Radio is operated by MediaCorp Radio and carries 14 radio
stations (six DAB-only stations and eight FM stations on simulcast). Eleven subscription DAB
radio stations are provided on Rediffusion. In addition to audio services, MediaCorp Radio is
also transmitting lifestyle, traffic and stock market information in textual form.

The MDA encourages the early deployment of DAB in Singapore and is working closely with
the Singapore DAB Forum and industry players to elevate DAB to a higher plane. It has
also taken the lead in setting up the Asia DAB Committee to promote, facilitate, and support
the implementation of DAB in Asia.

More information on DAB can be found at:

 DAB Milestones
 DAB Receivers Available in Singapore
 Digital Technology Development Scheme
 Key Benefits offered by DAB
Digital Radio
Description
Stations

Cruise Oldies from the late 50s and 60s and a mix
of Jazz standards and Jazz fusion.

Club Play Different kinds of dance music from techno

to trance.

JK-Pop The latest Japanese and Korean pop.

Chinese Evergreens A mix of Chinese evergreen classics.

Planet Bollywood The top Indian hits from popular Indian

movies.

Bloomberg Up-to-date news and financial information

from Bloomberg Radio and Bloomberg TV.

Symphony 92.4FM Classical music.

Y.E.S. 93.3FM Chinese Hits from the 90s and current pop
hits.

938LIVE News and Information.

Gold 90.5FM Classic English Hits.

Class 95FM Adult Contemporary English music.

Love 97.2FM Adult Contemporary Chinese pop music.

987FM Popular English Hits.

Lush 99.5FM Chill out, Nu Jazz & Urban Lounge music.

Free-to-Air Radio
Listeners in Singapore can enjoy a wide range of genres on Free-To-Air (FTA) analogue
radio. The genres range from news/current affairs, to pop to classical music. There are
currently three radio broadcasters and they are MediaCorp Radio Singapore Pte Ltd,
Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (SAFRA) Radio and SPH Unionworks. Here’s
information on these radio services:

MediaCorp Radio Singapore Pte Ltd, which started off as a single radio station in 1936, has
grown to become Singapore's largest radio network, owning and operating 13 analogue
free-to-air radio stations and one shortwave free-to-air station. MediaCorp Radio stations
broadcast in Singapore's four official languages, English; Malay; Chinese and Tamil and
cover various programming genres. Other than entertainment-based programming, it also
runs niche stations, which carry programming like news/current affairs, classical music and
foreign content such as Japanese, French and German programmes. In catering to the wide-
ranging listening needs and interests of the public, MediaCorp Radio offers the following
selection:

MediaCorp Radio Singapore Pte Ltd

Gold 90.5FM Features easy-listening favourites from the

60s to 90s; news/traffic updates and special
weekend programming like jazz, country and
Latin music

Symphony 92.4FM A classical music station dedicated to playing

a wide range of instrumental and orchestral
music, operas, Broadway hits and movies/TV
theme songs.

938LIVE Singapore's first news-talk station which

provides listeners with regular world and
local news updates and talkshows with a
Singaporean flavour.

Class 95FM An adult contemporary station which

entertains listeners with hits from the 70s,
80s and 90s, 24 hours a day.

987FM Targeted at youths and young adults, playing

top 40 hits from the USA, UK and Singapore.

Lush 99.5FM A mix of chill out, nu jazz and urban lounge

music.

Y.E.S. 93.3FM Keeps its listeners entertained with chart-

topping hits and entertainment news from
the Chinese music industry.

Capital 95.8FM Carries Mandarin and dialect news bulletins

with magazine-style programmes and
popular music from the 60s to the 90s.

Love 97.2FM An adult contemporary music station which

plays English and Mandarin hits from the 80s
and 90s interwoven with lifestyle capsules.
Warna 94.2FM Provides the latest news, music and
infotainment for the Malay community, 24
hours a day

Ria 89.7FM Targets young Malay listeners, featuring a

blend of Malay and English music and
entertainment news.

Oli 96.8FM Caters to the Indian community in

Singapore, providing news, music and info-
educational programmes.

XFM 96.3 Provides 24 hours of music and programmes

in Japanese, German, French, Korean and
Hindi catering to the expatriate community in
Singapore.

SAFRA Radio is operated by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (SAFRA). It
runs two stations - an English station, Power98FM and 883JiaFM, which broadcasts in
Mandarin. The stations reach out to national and professional servicemen. Both Power 98FM
and 883JiaFM are entertainment-based stations, which feature contemporary, popular music
and the latest entertainment news.

SAFRA Radio

Power98FM A 24 hour English entertainment station

which features contemporary, popular music
and the latest entertainment news

883JiaFM A Chinese entertainment station which

features contemporary, popular music and
the latest entertainment news.

In July 2006, SPH UnionWorks Pte Ltd was formed from a 70-30 joint venture between SPH
Multimedia and NTUC Media. SPH UnionWorks manages and operates 2 radio stations, Radio
91.3 and Radio 100.3. The two radio stations were previously known as WKRZ 91.3FM and
UFM 100.3FM respectively, and were owned and operated by NTUC Media and SPH
MediaWorks in a 50-50 joint venture which started in March 2001.

SPH UnionWorks

Radio 91.3 An English infotainment station that caters to

the 25+. Poised between a talk and a music
station, 91.3 aims to stimulate the intellect
as well as stir the emotions. A balanced
blend of adult contemporary-current and
classic hits presented by polished, likeable
and well-informed DJs.
Radio 100.3 A Mandarin infotainment station that caters
to a wide range of listeners with its highly
creative programs. Program content range
from lifestyle to gourmet features, current
affairs, music and entertainment. 100.3’s
delivery is bold, fun and innovative.

Singapore also has one foreign FTA radio station and that is the BBC World Service. It
operates one FM channel and uses Singapore as the base for its short-wave relays to the
region.

Subscription Radio
Rediffusion is the only subscription radio service provider in Singapore and the first country
in the world to introduce subscription digital radio service. Since obtaining a DAB Multiplex
Licence from the MDA in April 05, Rediffusion has since developed a set of DAB receivers
encrypted with conditional access for the wireless pay services application, making it the
world’s first and only digital DAB conditional access system for the mass market. Rediffusion
operates 11 subscription DAB radio stations.

Rediffusion

RediGold Chinese radio station with classic operas,

story-telling, folk songs, and information on
culture and tradition.

RediSilver Bilingual station for young adults.

BBC World (Mandarin) News and Analysis in English and Mandarin.

CNN International Breaking News updates.

Radio Australia News and information updates.

Classic FM Classical music station from the UK.

Vivalavice Opera music.

Jazz station Jazz music.

FUN Radio Fun and entertaining songs, games and

stories for children and their families.

HIT station Popular English hits all day and night.

G! Channel Educational and entertainment programmes

for children.