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Symphony 924
Broadcast areaSingapore
Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District (Malaysia)
Batam/Batam Islands, Riau Islands (Indonesia)
Frequency92.4 MHz
Programming
Language(s)English (Singlish)
Mandarin (until 31 December 1989)
FormatClassical music
Ownership
OwnerMediacorp
History
First air date
  • 18 July 1969; 55 years ago (1969-07-18) (on AM)
  • 18 July 1969; 55 years ago (1969-07-18) (on FM)
Last air date
  • 31 December 1993; 30 years ago (1993-12-31) (on AM)
Former names
  • FM Stereo Service (18 July 1969–31 December 1981)
  • Radio 5 (1 January 1982–29 November 1991)
Former frequencies
  • 790 kHz
    (18 July 1969–23 November 1978)
  • 792 kHz
    (23 November 1978–31 December 1993)
Links
Webcast
WebsiteSymphony 924

Symphony 924 is an English-language radio station in Singapore. Owned by state-owned broadcaster Mediacorp, it broadcasts classical music.

The station launched on 18 July 1969 as Radio Television Singapore's "FM Stereo Service"; its format initially featured classical and easy listening music. Since 1990, the station has primarily broadcast classical music.

History

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Radio Television Singapore launched its fifth station — an "FM Stereo Service" — on 18 July 1969 at 92.4 FM and 790 kHz. It broadcast for a total of eight hours per-day, divided between two blocks from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.[1]

On 1 August 1980, the FM Stereo service began broadcasting for 18 hours a day, increasing from just eight hours. "Light and pop music" aired for 12 hours instead of three,[2] consisting of "middle-of-the-road, country and western, easy pops and light jazz" and no hard rock.[3] The advertising rates were lower than that of SBC's AM stations.[3] On 1 January 1982, the station rebranded as Radio 5.[4]

In 1990, with the remit of middle-of-the-road music moving to the newly-launched Class 95, 92.4 began devoting itself entirely to classical music. In addition, after having previously broadcast programmes presented in both English and Mandarin, the station shifted to an entirely English-language presentation.[5]

The AM simulcasts of all SBC radio stations ended on 1 January 1994.[6] In January 1995, 92.4 briefly attempted at extending its transmission time to 2 am. The station later returned to the usual 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. broadcasting time in March 1995.[7]

92.4 began collaborating with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in January 1995,[8] airing selected performances from the orchestra.[9]

In August 1995, to increase listenership and revenue, 92.4 removed most of its classical music and added "light pops"; however the move was disliked by listeners.[10] 92.4 later decided to air classical music in two slots – 6 to 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. [11] (becoming 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends in October, with the 12 to 2 p.m. portion added in November),[12] with the rest of the broadcast day filled with "quality music" including Broadway music, light orchestral, solo instrumental and jazz.[11] 92.4 was also reported to have one of the highest listenerships for a classical music station at 3.7%.[13]

The station moved to 24-hour broadcasts on 1 January 2008.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Regular FM service on Radio S'pura". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 17 July 1969. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ "18 HOURS OF FM". The Straits Times. 15 July 1980. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Light 'n easy FM shows to draw more ads". The Straits Times. 14 August 1980. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  4. ^ "New Year gift: New-sound radio". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 16 December 1981. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  5. ^ "SBC to launch new English and Mandarin radio channels". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 8 December 1989. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. ^ "MW band cut with no warning". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 8 January 1994. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Change in radio times". The Straits Times. 22 February 1995. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ^ "SSO performances to be on regular radio broadcast". The Straits Times. 7 January 1995. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ "SSO radio link". The Straits Times. 29 January 1997. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Have English radio stations here lost their identity?". The Straits Times. 14 November 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Most feedback on FM 92.4 is positive". The Straits Times. 19 August 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  12. ^ "92.4 FM steps up volume on classicals". The Straits Times. 21 October 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  13. ^ "92.4 FM steps up volume on classicals". The Straits Times. 21 October 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Radio all day and all night". Today (retrieved from NLB). 28 December 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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