By Jalaja Ramanunni
MBC Group is launching MBC LOUD FM, a new radio station for the English-speaking and international music fans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It is the first time that a contemporary hit radio format has been launched in the country, MBC Group claims. Contemporary hit radio, commonly referred to as CHR, is a popular radio format found in numerous countries. It revolves around playing the latest and recurring chart-topping music, as determined by the Top 40 music charts.
Local shows will be supplemented with world syndicated programming. Show highlights include The daily wake up, On air with Ryan Seacrest and Spin city.
‘The daily wake up’ will be aired every weekday from 6am to 10am, and presented by Jay R and Danah. It will feature the music, news and celebrity gossip, along with other segments such as weather and traffic updates, daily call-ins and contests and latest in showbiz with ‘Raya on Scoop’.
‘On air with Ryan Seacrest’, will be aired every weekday from 4pm to 7pm. It will include new tracks that dominate the charts, celebrity gossip and entertainment news, and information on the newest movies. The syndicated show is exclusive to MBC LOUD FM in the KSA.
Meanwhile, ‘Spin City’ will feature local and international DJs, and will be aired on Thursday and Friday nights, from 10am to 3am.
Executing the brand strategy is Tarek Majdalani, who joins MBC LOUD FM as Station Manager. He will also lead in developing MBC LOUD FM’s brand strategy, profiling and positioning.
The new radio station is a part of MBC Group’s commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 in the field of entertainment and broadcast, said Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Chairman, MBC Group. He commented, “English, being the universal language of communication, plays a unifying role in bringing cultures from around the world together. With MBC LOUD FM, our goal is to reach a diverse audience throughout the country. By doing so, we aim to contribute to the Kingdom’s objectives in the upcoming phase, contributing to the nation’s ambitions in developments and growth in the entertainment and media industry.”
Ziad Hamza, Group Director of Audio, Radio & Music, MBC Group stated, “This new audio experience aims to completely change the way listeners experience FM radio. MBC LOUD FM aims to enrich audiences’ listening experiences and elevate their enjoyment of radio and music content. Our mission is to connect listeners with their counterparts worldwide by offering distinctive radio content that embodies an exceptional global template in both form and substance.”
MBC LOUD FM can be accessed on the frequencies: Riyadh – 99.0, Jeddah – 94.3, and Dammam – 88.5.
