Buzz Asia
Encyclopedia
Buzz Asia is a rhythmic contemporary Asian music radio service, broadcasting to London
on 963 and 972 medium wave. It is the fourth station to occupy that position, following Viva, Liberty Radio
and Club Asia.
Prior to 2002, the frequencies had been occupied by a light pop music and female-skewing talk service initially named "Viva 963", which was renamed "Liberty Radio
" in 1996 following its takeover by Mohamed Al-Fayed
. The station was then sold again, to Brazil
ian religious group the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
(UCKG).
Liberty did not become available on digital radio
(due to regulations at the time preventing stations owned by religious groups from launching onto DAB); as a result their licence was not eligible for the automatic renewal which was granted to operators carrying their existing AM/FM stations on DAB. It was re-advertised, and awarded in November 2002 to Club Asia, a service proposing a rhythmic dance and urban music service aimed at London's Asian
population. Liberty Radio ceased broadcasting on medium wave (MW) in July 2003, and transmission of the Club Asia service began in September of that year.
Club Asia collapsed into administration in August 2009, and the station stopped live programming and played only back-to-back music, resulting in it being found in breach of its licence obligations by Ofcom
. The operators of Club Asia subsequently negotiated a takeover of the frequencies by the parent firm of Sunrise Radio
and Kismat Radio
, the Litt Corporation, and the new owners relaunched the station as Buzz Asia. Following the takeover and the resumption of presented content, Ofcom ruled the station had returned to compliance with its licence conditions.
Buzz Asia continued to broadcast on medium wave and online; it had not at that time secured a digital radio licence (its siblings Sunrise Radio
and Kismat Radio
were available on DAB in London - Sunrise on CE London
and Kismat on DRG London
, with a third Litt service, Punjabi Radio, carried on Switch London
having replaced Yarr Radio
).
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 963 and 972 medium wave. It is the fourth station to occupy that position, following Viva, Liberty Radio
Liberty Radio
Liberty Radio is a UK radio broadcaster and company based in London, England that, , broadcasts on satellite and the Internet, but not terrestrial radio or DAB. The company started as Viva 963, broadcasting on terrestrial radio, predominantly for women, and was later renamed...
and Club Asia.
History
See also: Liberty RadioLiberty Radio
Liberty Radio is a UK radio broadcaster and company based in London, England that, , broadcasts on satellite and the Internet, but not terrestrial radio or DAB. The company started as Viva 963, broadcasting on terrestrial radio, predominantly for women, and was later renamed...
Prior to 2002, the frequencies had been occupied by a light pop music and female-skewing talk service initially named "Viva 963", which was renamed "Liberty Radio
Liberty Radio
Liberty Radio is a UK radio broadcaster and company based in London, England that, , broadcasts on satellite and the Internet, but not terrestrial radio or DAB. The company started as Viva 963, broadcasting on terrestrial radio, predominantly for women, and was later renamed...
" in 1996 following its takeover by Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed is an Egyptian businessman and billionaire. Amongst his business interests are ownership of the English Premiership football team Fulham Football Club, Hôtel Ritz Paris and formerly Harrods Department Store, Knightsbridge...
. The station was then sold again, to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian religious group the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is a Pentecostal Christian organisation established in Brazil on July 9, 1977, with a presence in many countries...
(UCKG).
Liberty did not become available on digital radio
Digital radio
Digital radio has several meanings:1. Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies, such as the digital audio broadcasting system, also known as Eureka 147. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized into zeros and ones, compressed using formats such as...
(due to regulations at the time preventing stations owned by religious groups from launching onto DAB); as a result their licence was not eligible for the automatic renewal which was granted to operators carrying their existing AM/FM stations on DAB. It was re-advertised, and awarded in November 2002 to Club Asia, a service proposing a rhythmic dance and urban music service aimed at London's Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
population. Liberty Radio ceased broadcasting on medium wave (MW) in July 2003, and transmission of the Club Asia service began in September of that year.
Club Asia collapsed into administration in August 2009, and the station stopped live programming and played only back-to-back music, resulting in it being found in breach of its licence obligations by Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
. The operators of Club Asia subsequently negotiated a takeover of the frequencies by the parent firm of Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio is the United Kingdom's first Independent Local Radio station to cater specifically for the Asian community. Dr Avtar Lit is the chairman and chief executive of this media group which also operates kismat radio,buzz asia,punjabi radio as well as sunrise tv-Transmission:It initially...
and Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio is a radio station broadcasting from the Crystal Palace Transmitter in south-east London.- Background :The target audience is British Asians and South Asian expats aged 30+, with programme formats comprising Asian Talk and music....
, the Litt Corporation, and the new owners relaunched the station as Buzz Asia. Following the takeover and the resumption of presented content, Ofcom ruled the station had returned to compliance with its licence conditions.
Buzz Asia continued to broadcast on medium wave and online; it had not at that time secured a digital radio licence (its siblings Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio is the United Kingdom's first Independent Local Radio station to cater specifically for the Asian community. Dr Avtar Lit is the chairman and chief executive of this media group which also operates kismat radio,buzz asia,punjabi radio as well as sunrise tv-Transmission:It initially...
and Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio is a radio station broadcasting from the Crystal Palace Transmitter in south-east London.- Background :The target audience is British Asians and South Asian expats aged 30+, with programme formats comprising Asian Talk and music....
were available on DAB in London - Sunrise on CE London
CE London
CE London is a Digital Audio Broadcasting multiplex available in the London area and has been broadcasting since May 2000. It is also referred to as the Greater London 1 multiplex...
and Kismat on DRG London
DRG London
DRG London is a Digital Audio Broadcasting multiplex available in the London area that has been broadcasting since January 2002. It is also referred to as the Greater London 3 multiplex...
, with a third Litt service, Punjabi Radio, carried on Switch London
Switch London
Switch London is a DAB ensemble operated by Switch Digital; it broadcasts from a variety of sites in and around London Switch London is a DAB ensemble operated by Switch Digital; it broadcasts from a variety of sites in and around London Switch London is a DAB ensemble operated by Switch Digital;...
having replaced Yarr Radio
Yarr Radio
Yarr Radio is/was a British music radio station aimed at a young Asian audience. It broadcast on digital radio in various regions of the UK and on Sky Channel 187...
).