XFM 96.3
Broadcast areaSingapore
Frequency96.3 MHz
Programming
FormatInternational music
Ownership
OwnerMediacorp Pte Ltd (Mediacorp Radio)
History
First air date
12 October 1998; 25 years ago (1998-10-12)[1]
Last air date
30 September 2016; 7 years ago (2016-09-30)[2]
Links
WebcastWeb Stream
Websitetoggle.sg/xfm963

XFM 96.3 was an Expat radio station of Mediacorp in Singapore. Broadcasting on 96.3 MHz, it was Singapore's only radio station that broadcast a mix of Japanese, French, Korean,[3] Hindi, Bangladeshi and German programmes. A blend of World Music from Brazil, Greece, Italy, Lebanon and Spain would also be played during an automated music marathon daily.

History

The International Channel

Plans for the station was announced by then-Minister for Information and the Arts George Yeo in March 1998, with the tentative name Inter FM, providing programmes in French, Japanese and German.[4]

Ahead of the launch of the station, it was announced that FM 96.3 was going to feature locally-made programming in Japanese, as part of the first phase of the service, set to begin on 14 September. The initial target during the first four weeks of operation was going to consist mainly of 25,000 Japanese immigrants residing in Singapore. From 12 October, French and German output was to be added, when the station's regular broadcasts were about to begin.[5]

The station started 24/7 broadcasts on 1 January 2008.[6]

XFM

Both the Media Development Authority (MDA) and Mediacorp mutually agreed to cease transmission of the station on 30 September 2016. Mediacorp stated "new technologies and evolving radio listenership preferences" were the reasons for their evaluation.[2]

In 2016, the reused frequency (as well as a newly vacated 89.3 frequency) were tendered and won by SPH Radio. In 2018, 96.3 Hao FM was launched and broadcast using the 96.3 frequency.[7]

Programming

See also

References

  1. ^ "Launch of FM 96.3 - The International Channel". NAS. 12 October 1998. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Ng, Jing Yng (16 June 2016). "MDA calls for bids for two new radio stations". Today. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Some radio milestones through the decades". TODAY. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  4. ^ "One FM goes for news and gold". The Straits Times. 22 April 1998. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  5. ^ "It's FM 96.3 for Japanese shows". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 23 July 1998. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Radio all day and all night". Today (retrieved from NLB). 28 December 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  7. ^ The Hindi (bollywood) Radio Masti 96.3 continues digitally as a 24 hours LIVE radio from their studios as Radio Masti 24x7 available on iOS, Android and their Facebook page. "SPH wins tender for two new radio stations | AsiaRadioToday.com". www.asiaradiotoday.com. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Japanese Programme Highlights". The International Channel. 2005. Archived from the original on 24 November 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Korean Programme Highlights". The International Channel. 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

External links

Radio stations in Singapore
Mediacorp
Categories