Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has won the tender to launch two new radio stations by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). SPH, who is currently operating 3 radio stations, is the second largest radio broadcaster in the country.
The new stations will be FM89.3 and FM96.3 and will be operated from December 2017. The two new stations will be in Chinese and English each. The English radio station will be the country's first business and personal finance channel. It aims to reach a wide audience, and with Singapore's positioning as Asia's economic hub, the station is likely to cover a wide range of financial and business topics.
Moreover, the station will have access to SPH's wide range of content. A report on Asia One stated: "The station will have access to all SPH's content including business news and information from The Business Times, which has established itself as South-east Asia's leading business daily, as well as the Business section of The Straits Times, SPH's flagship newspaper. It will also work with SPH's subsidiary, ShareInvestor Pte Ltd, which has one of the largest investor relations networks in Asia."
It aims in offering up-to-date business and finance information to enhance the country's financial expertise and literacy. It will be targeting general listeners who will be looking for everyday personal finance matters.
The second station will be a Chinese infotainment channel targeting senior citizens. "Besides memorable tunes of the 80s and 90s, there will be content tie-ups with SPH's Chinese flagship newspaper Lianhe Zaobao and its two Chinese evening dailies, Lianhe Wanbao and Shin Min Daily News," the report added.
Patrick Daniel, Chairman of SPH Radio and Deputy CEO of SPH, said in a statement: "We are delighted to have been awarded the licenses to operate two more radio stations in Singapore. They will cater to new listener segments and increase the vibrancy of the local radio industry with their unique positioning and programming. Together with our three existing radio stations, we will deliver engaging and enriching content for both our listeners and advertisers."
