98.8FM most certainly Sun FM

There has been so much of talk on whether 98.8FM will be Sun FM or Sha FM, however we can most certainly say that this is Sun FM. Testing is being carried out continuous using English music which indicates that this is a English Language Radio Station.

In addition we believe that this channel is being broadcast from the WTC. The channel is reportedly clear inside colombo city limits and we can confirm that coverage along the Negombo Road is the same as Gold FM. Only channels broadcast from the WTC have been able to maintain high levels of clarity along the Negombo Road.

We believe it is safe to assume that this is Sun 98.8FM or who knows maybe Gold FM will be shifted to 98.8FM and it will be back to Sun 99.9FM.

Please keep us updated on the latest as the days progress.

Updated : DJ's are sporting the Sun FM Logo on Facebook - Oct 8th @ 10:40am

• Jay Walker Sunfm
• Lara on Sun
  

Amazing Race Asia Season 4 touches down in Sri Lanka

"The Amazing Race Asia", the Asian Edition of the one of the biggest reality shows in the US "The Amazing Race", touched down in Sri Lanka in a surprising move. Challenges were held in various locations in & around colombo. The pit stop for this leg of the race was the Independence Square and the next leg of the race which will be telecast next week is scheduled to begin in Sri Lanka with more challenges taking place.

The US Edition of "The Amazing Race" touched down in Sri Lanka several years ago on a short stop over, this is however a much longer visit.

It was a treat to see our locals from fisher folk to garment factories getting involved in the show's challenges. The major set back was the shameful display by our Trishaw drivers who kept over charging the contestants by charging them whopping amounts such as Rs 900/= to Rs 3000/= for hires within Colombo.

The Amazing Race Asia is telecast over AXN Asia which is available in Sri Lanka on LBN & Dialog TV.

ABC testing 98.8FM -> Sun FM?

Asian Broadcasting Corporation is testing 98.8FM and we expect Sun FM to resume transmissions on the frequency. The location of the broadcast tower is not confirmed as yet. At the moment they are testing the channel using non stop English Music. The transmission is not as powerful as those of Gold FM but it may improve over the next few days.

Please keep us updated on the latest regarding these test transmissions.

Zee Sports rebrands as Ten Action

Zee Sports was rebranded as Ten Action with effect from yesterday. As per this move Ten Action will be a football centric channel.

This is the third channel to be released to the Ten Sports stable, the second being Ten Cricket. It is rumoured that Taj Television is in talks with the Golf Channel in order to launch a golf centric channel in the Indian sub continent owing to the increasing popularity of Golf in this region.

Therefore all cricketing content from Ten Sports has moved to Ten Cricket and now all football has moved to Ten Action. If there are two cricket matches or two football matches at the same time then Ten Sports will also be broadcasting Cricket or football content otherwise these new channels will continue to broadcast whats related to them. Shows like Wrestling, Golf, Tennis, Moto GP will continue to be broadcast on Ten Sports.

Ten Action is available in Sri Lanka on LBN & Dialog TV.

Sun FM & Sha FM to launch on October 1st

According to information being received, Sun FM and Sha FM will be recommencing transmissions on October 1st after being halted for over one year. Sun will be on 92.4 FM and Sha will be on 98.8 FM.

We are however unable to clarify the accuracy of this information but as of now test transmissions are yet not available on these two frequencies.

Sun FM, Sha FM to relaunch?

Rumors are afoot that Sun FM & Sha FM will be launching soon. Sha FM is expected to launch before the end of this year but an approximate Sun FM launch date is not available.

There have been earlier rumors about prospective launches of these channels which led the market in their respective fields.

The rumors are based on rumors of allocation to ABC radio by the TRC of new frequencies. However these channels are not expected to be able to have the coverage prior to their controversial shutdown and equally controversial relaunch due to frequency allocation blunders by the TRC.

Hallmark Channel Asia & Zee Sports to rebrand

Hallmark Channel Asia will be rebranding as Diva Universal from Sept 19th 2010 & Zee Sports will be rebranded as Ten Action soon.

With the rebranding to Diva Universal new programmes are expected such as Top Chef and new seasons of The Biggest Looser Asia.

Ten Action will be a football focused channel and all Ten Sports football programming will move to Ten Action. This channel will compliment Taj Television's bouquet of channels now comprising of Ten Sports & Ten Cricket.

Ten Action will be available on Dialog TV and LBN. Diva Universal will be available on Dialog TV and LBN.

Now also on "twitter.com/tvradiosrilanka"

Hey fellow bloggers we are happy to announce that we have officially launched on twitter. We will be using twitter to keep you guys updated with quick posts and use blogger for the more detailed posts.

Posts made on the blogs will be tweeted also and one twitter account will serve all three blogs.

We kindly request our fellow bloggers to join on the twitter bandwagon.

http://twitter.com/tvradiosrilanka

AXN available FTA

We are receiving reports that international action oriented channel AXN is available in Sri Lanka on a FTA basis on VHF. There are several editions of AXN available in this region mainly AXN Singapore and AXN India. Pay television operators in Sri Lanka (Dialog TV & LBN) carry the Singapore edition, we are not sure whether FTA broadcast is rebroadcasting the Singapore edition or Indian edition.

We request our fellow bloggers who have been available to receive this channel, to update us with this information.

Discovery Travel & Living rebrands as TLC

Discovery Travel & Living has rebranded as "TLC" from yesterday. The new channel has retained some of its former programming and will focus more on lifestyle programming. In addition it will there will be an increase in cookery related programming that target the feminine side.

Discovery Travel & Living, Hallmark Channel to be rebranded

Discovery Travel & Living the lifestyle channel of Discovery Networks will be rebranded as "TLC " commencing September 1st 2010. "TLC" which stood for "The Learning Channel" earlier has moved away from its initial concept and positioned itself as a lifestyle channel. This is part of a global initiative by Discovery Networks to roll out TLC globally.

Hallmark Channel will be rebranded as "DIVA Universal" on 19th September 2010. The channel will be introducing a wide range of new programmes such as "Top Chef" & will be introducing new season of programmes such "The Biggest Looser Asia". With it's launch DIVA Universal will be the first Universal brand channel to be available in Sri Lanka.

Ten Sports to launch Ten Cricket, a Golf & football channel on the way

Ten Cricket is to launch on Aug 10, 2010. This is the second Ten branded channel in the region. Zee Television which owns a major share in Ten Sports is planning to launch a Golf & Zee Sports rebrand as a football channel.

So Ten is ramping up its presence in this region. Sadly local pay television operators Dialog TV, PEO TV, LBN are very slow in adding new channels. Let's see who adds the channel first and increases their lead or narrows the gap with the leader.

ABC gets new frequencies.. Sun & Sha FM to return???

ABC Radio has been able to get some new frequencies in their bag. Out of all this there are two notable ones in Colombo. We are not sure but it looks like the new ones are for Sun FM and Sha FM.

Rumours flying on our blog and other forums suggest that this could be the case, however we cannot be certain.

Please keep us updated on the latest regarding this trend.

We are still here!!!!

Fellow bloggers, it's been a long time since we made a post & we have been keeping up with the recent trends in the media but sadly we have not had the time to concentrate on this blog. We noticed that endless spamming is taking place, driving some of our fellow bloggers away however we thank our dear bloggers who are still making use of this blog to share information even though we have not done our part for a long time.

We thank you for continuing to use this blog & we will do our utmost best to do our part in maintaining this blog by keeping it updated. We will also take all necessary steps required to delete spam.

New Radio Station spotted on 97.3 FM

A new English Language Radio station can be heard on 97.3 FM. The transmissions are not that clear. It could be another frequency for YOUR Radio which was testing on 88.3 FM or it could be another new Radio channel altogether.

CCTV 9 now on FTA basis

Over the last few days a new television was spotted on UHF 30 broadcasting on an on & off basis carrying Chinese programming. According to reports reaching us as of last night this channel has been broadcasting uninterrupted. the channel is said to relaying CCTV 9 programming. CCTV 9 is presently available in Sri Lanka via a few pay television operators.

The channel has been viewed clearly in and around colombo & its suburbs but we are not sure of the coverage out of the suburban region.

Please keep us updated on the latest on this channel as the days progress.

YOUR Radio - coming soon

Sri Lanka's latest English Language Radio channel part of VIS broadcasting "YOUR Radio" will commence broadcasting soon on 88.3 FM. Presently test transmission of "YOUR Radio" are taking place during the course of the day.

Website : http://www.yourradionet.com/

ETV censoring local news

Reports are coming in of censorship being carried out by local FTA channel ETV. It seems that whenever Sri Lanka related news is being carried on Channel News Asia, ETV censors it. ETV a member of the EAP Edirisinghe Group of Companies most likely wants to obtain the favor of the government.

So far no public announcement has been made by the GOSL asking channels to censor Sri Lanka related news over the international media. Reports of such censoring on other media have not come in as yet. ETV is depriving the general public's right to obtain views on Sri Lanka from different sources.

How can a responsible media institution operated by a high profile group such as the EAP Group, resort to such third grade tactics to obtain government favor?

We urge the Board of Directors of EAP Group to instruct ETV to stop such censorship or all members of the company including the Directors of the group including the Chairperson of the Group Mrs Soma Edirisinghe will be seen as puppets that dance to the tune of the Sri Lankan Government. ETV is management by Vanguard Management Services which is also a part of the EAP Group.

Dan TV disturbing with NTV and Vasantham TV

According to reports reaching us, Dan TV transmissions are disturbing NTV and Vasantham TV on UHF. Several viewers are complaining of the disturbance and have informed the TRC too which is as usual not willing to take any action.

The disturbance of E FM transmission outside colombo was highlighted on this blog several months ago and a few days later TRC frequency monitoring vehicles were seen heading towards Negombo but no action has been taken to rectify the matter.

So the TRC seems powerless to monitor their own frequency allocation, which is a sad situation indeed.

We hope steps are taken to rectify these situations otherwise, we will have so many channels all disturbing each other so badly that no one will be able to enjoy these channels.

Happy New Year 2010

We take this opportunity to wish the Management & Staff of all media institutions in Sri Lanka, our fellow bloggers a "Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010". We thank you for your contribution towards making this blog a wonderful success and for continuing to update this blog with the latest news and we hope that you will be with us throughout the coming year as well.