Omar Shaheen, the Chief Executive Officer of Radio Bahrain Company, a subsidiary of Mumtalakat, the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Bahrain, which operates and manages Radio Bahrain 96.5, has hailed the inauguration of the new private radio stations building at the Information Ministry’s complex.
He asserted the new building provides Radio Bahrain 96.5 with many opportunities to present various shows and content that reflect the vitality and dynamism the station enjoys, noting that the studios were built according to the latest international models, to provide the space, environment and resources required to create exceptional content for listeners.
In a statement to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), he said that the transformation of Radio Bahrain 96.5 from the public to the private sector has unlocked more relevant and in-demand content, and given it the opportunity to work more closely with leading brands, entering into local, regional, and international partnerships and collaborations.
Radio Bahrain 96.5 is the first and only official English language radio station in Bahrain with a potential broadcast reach of 6.5 million listeners.
“This cycle of growth has increased credibility from partners and created higher quality programming. The audience growth also leads to more opportunities for innovation and growth,” he said.
Omar pointed out that the transformation has allowed them to make cutting-edge decisions like releasing its first non-fungible token (NFT) edition in 2022.
“We were the first radio station in the world to do this – something that would be out of the remit of a public sector organisation. These kinds of activities and offerings put Radio Bahrain on the map, and allow us to punch above our weight in the global landscape of radio,” he added.
The station has joined Mumtalakat in May 2019 and rebranded its corporate identity.
“Joining the Mumtalakat family was a major milestone in our growth as a radio station. With the support of Mumtalakat and their dynamic board, we have been able to introduce significant changes that have helped us unlock new growth and increased revenue,” the CEO said.
Four years later, Radio Bahrain 96.5 announced the opening of the new studios, which has created so many opportunities for the team to create a variety of shows and content that reflect the station’s fun and engaging personality that resonates with listeners.
“The studios are state-of-art, and provide us with the space, environment and resources we need to create even better content for our listeners,” Shaheen added.
Radio Bahrain 96.5 has a unique position to connect with listeners across the island, as well as the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia which gives the station an even wider audience.
“Radio Bahrain has always worked hard to be a community hub, and with our new facilities and corporate structures, we don’t necessarily have to limit that community to those based in Bahrain and the Eastern Province – the sky is the limit,” the CEO affirmed.
Radio Bahrain 96.5 distinguishes itself from other stations in a number of ways. The station plays all the global hits (global top 40), so listeners always have the latest music to listen to.
“Our award-winning new brand is a clear and distinct reflection of who and what Radio Bahrain 96.5 under Mumtalakat’s stewardship is. It is modern, vibrant, and engaging. It also reflects our commitment to providing our listeners with a unique and exciting listening experience,” Omar Shaheen added.
Radio Bahrain 96.5 is expecting to add exciting new frequencies and business verticals to the Radio Bahrain Company portfolio offerings in the near future.
The CEO highlighted that the station’s audience is much more transient than the average English language station.
He said that the station is working to expand its services across the globe to connect with audiences who no longer live in Bahrain through partnerships with other stations or media outlets to co-produce shows.
“Radio Bahrain is shaping and contributing to the evolving and expanding landscape of modern broadcast radio in a number of ways,” he explained. “First, it is a brand that has broken through the stereotype of radio being typically heard only in the car for a few minutes.”
With Radio Bahrain’s current digital operations, listeners can now engage with the station through a variety of platforms, including streaming from its website and App, and engaging in its competitions, quizzes and games across their social media channels.
“Second, the station produces relevant content for all demographics,” he said. “It is a relatable, personal, and engaging brand that can offer their listeners anything at any point of time.”
“Third, Radio Bahrain 96.5 continuously innovates and looks for new ways to reach our listeners.”
Shaheen said that the soon-to-be-introduced, ‘visual radio’ is a great example of Radio Bahrain 96.5’s innovation plan.
“Visual radio will allow us to combine the best of both worlds – the audio experience of radio with the visual experience of video,” he said.
“This will create a new and immersive way for listeners to engage with our content,” Omar explained.
Radio Bahrain 96.5 is one of the regional leaders in the evolving and expanding landscape of modern broadcast radio.
The station is at the start of a digital transformation journey that will see potential audience size grow even further.
“We will always produce high-quality content that is relevant and engaging to a global audience. So, many people around the world love Bahrain and have great memories of visiting or living here, and for many of them Radio Bahrain 96.5 plays a big part in those memories. That’s a legacy we’re committed to maintaining for decades to come,” the CEO said.
Source: Bahrain News Agency