HITZ is a Malaysian national radio station managed by Astro Radio, a subsidiary of Astro Holdings Sdn Bhd. The radio station name was changed from Hitz.FM to Hitz FM in 2014. The radio has regional stations in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. In 2015, as according to Nielsen RAM Survey Wave #1, Hitz FM maintained its position as Malaysia's leading English-language station with over 1.2 million listeners.
History
January 1997 - HITZ FM was launched into Malaysian FM airwaves in January 1997 after being one of Astro's audio-only channels since the launch of the satellite network in October the year before. 2000 - the Malaysian Top 10 was introduced, airing every Sundays at 4pm to bring the limelight into local Malaysian music which would suit the tastes of hitz fm's listeners, especially indie acts. April 2001: HITZ FM undergoes rebranding as Hitz.FM, introduces new online features like webcasts of their on-air announcers in action and radio streaming. In August 2003, a rift between Li'l Kev and the management of AMP over the contract between them caused him and FlyGuy to leave Hitz.FM abruptly. Jason Lo and Rudy Sufian were called up to fill in their places and eventually became the new Morning Crew.. Later in the same year, Hitz.TV was launched as a complement to the radio channel. 2005: The introduction of Thehitz fm Malaysian English Top 10 Awards to "honour the best of Malaysian English-singing musical talent and compositions". 2008: Rudy announced his decision to give up his morning show, confessing to having problems getting up in the mornings and needed to change his work pattern. Ean takes his place alongside JJ following the resignation until 2016. September 2010: Hitz.FM was launched alongside its respective Malay and Chinese counterparts Era and My FM in East Malaysia - the three channels began broadcasting in Kuching on 25 October of that year followed by Kota Kinabalu on 1 December. 2014: Hitz.FM was rebranded again, this time reverted to its original name Hitz FM. On 1 January 2018, the station dropped the suffix "FM" from its brand name as part of the Astro Radio’s major rebranding project to focus on digital platform. A new logo of Hitz also unveiled during the rebranding.
