On Reflection | Could English-language radio station BFM 89.9 be voice of Malaysia?
While legacy media are slashing staff, this talk-radio station is on the cusp of national expansion as its openness to debate and diversity proves tantalising fare for audiences hungry for intelligent content
The news media isn’t just in secular decline, it’s in the intensive-care unit – and Malaysia is no exception to this global trend.
Nearly two weeks ago, the storied Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia (a resolute supporter of the former ruling party, Umno) – after haemorrhaging some 8 million ringgit (US$1.9 million) per month – began slashing its 1,500-strong staff by more than 50 per cent.
Conversely, a bubbly English-language talk-radio station called BFM 89.9 celebrated its 10th anniversary.
It marked its milestone with a move to spanking-new, light-filled premises: a virtual hipster nirvana located in the heart of upscale Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur’s neighbourhood equivalent of Bangkok’s Soi Thonglor, Manila’s Salcedo or Jakarta’s Senopati.
Having started a decade ago with only 5 million ringgit and fewer than 10 staff, the radio station now employs a dedicated team of over 60. And it is on the cusp of a national expansion programme.
How is this possible?