Summary
So Drama! Entertainment (previously SAFRA Radio) is a Singapore media company owned by SAFRA National Service Association. In their portfolio are four brands - 883Jia, Power 98, Music and Drama Company and PIONEER.
| Company type | private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment Mass media Interactive media Media consultancy |
| Headquarters | 5 Depot Road, Defence Technology Tower B, #12-04, Singapore 109681 |
Area served | Singapore |
| Owner | SAFRA |
| Website | sodrama.sg |
PIONEER edit
Owned and managed by So Drama! Entertainment, an entity under SAFRA, PIONEER provides news on the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF, perspectives on defence and security issues that matter to Singapore as well as a glimpse into defence happenings and defence technology around the world. Originally a print magazine, it went fully digital in 2019.[1]
Music and Drama Company edit
The Music and Drama Company (MDC) was first formed by Defence Minister Goh Keng Swee in 1973 to boost the morale of Singapore Armed Forces' soldiers through live entertainment and educating them on national duty.[2][3]
MDC expanded in 1992 to include a choir, a chamber ensemble and a Chinese orchestra.[2] MDC is based in Nee Soon Camp and has music studios and a dance studio.[2]
Its radio programme, Forces 55, aired on SBC radio between 1977 and October 1994. The radio programme ended due to the launch of Power 98.[4]
Notable former members includes rapper Sheikh Haikel, comedian and director Jack Neo, singer and actor Gurmit Singh and musical artist Dick Lee.[2]
Radio edit
Formerly known as SAFRA Radio, it was renamed as So Drama! Entertainment in 2017. According to the company, it chose the name “So Drama!” because "it’s a quintessentially Singaporean phrase that describes something which moves and amuses you".[5][6]
The company runs two radio stations – 88.3Jia and Power 98 Love Songs. 88.3Jia first rode the airwaves in 1995, before relaunching in 2007 as Singapore's only bilingual station. The former POWER 98 relaunched as POWER 98 LOVE SONGS in 2019, it's now the first and only English station playing love songs all day.[citation needed]
Additional stations from both 88.3Jia and Power 98 can be heard through their portal Camokakis, which include stations dedicated to K-pop (88.3Jia K-pop) and classic hits (Power 98 Retro).
FM stations edit
All the frequencies below can be heard in the Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District, Singapore and Batam City/Batam Islands.
| Frequency (Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District, Singapore and Batam City/Batam Islands) | TRP (kW) | Station | RDS | Language | Genre | Broadcast area | Transmitter site | Opening date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.3 MHz (Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District, Singapore and Batam City/Batam Islands) | 5 | 883Jia | 88.3JIA | Mandarin Chinese English (Music only) |
Adult contemporary (mostly Mandopop/K-pop) | Singapore Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District (Malaysia) Batam/Batam Islands, Riau Islands (Indonesia) |
Bukit Batok Transmission Centre | 12 June 1995 | |
| 98.0 MHz (Johor Bahru/Johor Bahru District, Singapore and Batam City/Batam Islands) | 12 | Power 98 Love Songs | POWER 98 | English | Adult contemporary (Love songs) | 31 October 1994 | Both contemporary and classic hits genres relocated as online radio station |
References edit
- ^ "PIONEER Singapore-August 2019 Magazine - Get your Digital Subscription". Magzter. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ a b c d "SAF MDC: Where boys become stars". AsiaOne. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ Cheong, Kash (2013-11-22). "SAF Music and Drama Company still entertaining after 40 years". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ "Station targets wider SAF family". The Straits Times. 6 October 1994. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "SAFRA Radio is now So Drama! Entertainment". 4 July 2017.
- ^ "SAFRA Radio is now So Drama! Entertainment". 4 July 2017.