IF YOU’RE tired that radio doesn’t play your favourite songs – or your own songs, for that matter – or if you’re sick and tired of listening to Justin Biber or Rebecca Black, well take heart – you may not have to!
Yes, you can start broadcasting what you like if you take up the offer of operating one of two new radio frequencies.
The Media Development Authority (MDA) is conducting a three-month long public tender to allocate two FM frequencies – FM 89.3 and FM 92.0 – to operate commercial or not-for-profit radio stations in Singapore.
Yup, you could be a proud broadcaster playing all your favourite hits, whether it’s One Less Lonely Girl, Hey There Lonely Girl, Young Girl, Brown Eyed Girl or Who’s That Girl.
The tender follows an earlier ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) exercise conducted by MDA in April 2010. More than 20 parties registered their interest at the close of the EOI exercise in May 2010.
Based on market interest, MDA now seeks formal proposals from interested parties to operate FM 89.3 and FM92.0. The three-month public tender exercise will close on 28 June 2011.
As part of the tender exercise, MDA welcomes new ideas and does not intend to limit the future station(s) to any particular genre, in order to encourage a variety of proposals. The tender also aims to encourage new players to enter the market as well as to provide more choices for listeners, resulting in a greater spread of local radio content for different segments of the population.
MDA will evaluate the bids submitted based on the following criteria:
• programming innovation, characteristics and quality;
• financial standing and business plan; and
• ability to produce and promote local content that aids the development of Singapore’s media industry.
In addition, for tenderers who intend to operate commercial radio stations, there would be a monetary bid component, while not-for-profit radio stations will be evaluated on the social impact of their offerings.
The tender is now posted on GeBiz, under ITT No. DA000ETT11000022.
Interested parties can submit their proposals according to the instructions in the tender before 4pm 28 June 2011.
Results of the tender will be made known by September 2011.
According to the Nielson Media Index, 93 per cent of the population aged 15 and above tuned in to radio in the past week. There are now 20 FM radio stations in Singapore.
So come on, don’t be shy – join the radio ga ga gang.
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