By
Sadikali Tuvvoor
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's first foreign language FM radio stations will start broadcasting next July. Cluster Arabia, a leading business group in Jeddah, is coming up with a new FM radio under Capital Radio Network.
In a press conference called in Jeddah, company officials announced that FM radio broadcasts will start in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tagalog, the Philippine language under the Capital Radio Network broadcasting company. The new FM radio is launched to benefit Saudi residents, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims, visitors, and tourists alike in the country.
Apart from news updates, music, audience interaction, and other entertainment programs will be broadcast on the radio. Listeners can get timely notifications and awareness on various topics in the diaspora world through the 24-hour radio.
According to the company officials, it has already got frequency in Jeddah and Riyadh for Malayalam and Hindi languages and will soon get the frequency in Dammam. Malayalam programs will reach listeners on the frequency 101.7 in Riyadh and 104.5 in Jeddah and Hindi language broadcasts in Riyadh and Jeddah on the frequency 101.5. Broadcasting will begin soon in English and Tagalog.
Listeners can tune into the radio through their FM radio devices or online streaming platforms. Work is underway to secure the services of the best presenters for radio. The new initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to increase communication and cultural exchange between the country and the world. Company founder and CEO Mr. Raheem Pattar Kadavan said that the company's entry into the FM radio sector is fully in line with the Saudi rulers' vision of an unprecedented leap into the field of media and communication and that after four years of operation, they are very happy to receive permission from the Saudi Ministry of Information for the first foreign language FM radio station in Saudi Arabia.
The radio stations are launched completely independently with no ties to any existing local or international media company. Raheem Pattar Kadavan expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Ruler King Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Amir Mohammed bin Salman, and the Investment, Commerce, and Media Ministries of the country for being able to play a crucial role in the Saudi Vision 2030 through the first FM radio project.
The company logo was also unveiled at a press conference held at Jeddah Park Hyatt Hotel. Mr. Abdulrahman Pattar Kadavan (Founding Chairman), Dr. Ahmed Otarjee (Project Head), and Ms. Mai Mohsin (Corporate Communication) also attended the press conference.