Top MediaCorp DJs head to SPH Radio

Competition on the radio airwaves is heating up as SPH Radio has recently hired MediaCorp radio veterans Glenn Ong and Mark Van Cuylenburg, better known as The Flying Dutchman.The duo of Glenn Ong and The Flying Dutchman will now helm ONE FM’s Breakfast Show on weekdays from six to 10 am, along with Andre Hoeden. A spokesperson from the SPH radio team told Marketing that with the addition of the duo, the station is "anticipating more advertiser interest" and engagement of the morning show."As a new station we are already expecting a growth in listenership and a series of activities have been planned to boost awareness," she added. Apart from through the line efforts that is rolling out progressively, there is a series of on-ground engagement for fans and trade. However the station was unable to comment on the expected growth of its listenership and ad dollars with the new talents on board. The spokesperson also added that according to the latest Nielsen Radio Survey Diary, ONE FM 91.3 debuted with 243,000 cumulative listenership.The SPH station was launched earlier this year and positioned itself as the radio station for Singaporean men targeting those over 30. It runs with the tagline “Real Music”. In an earlier press statement, Sim Hong Huat, general manager of SPH Radio, had said after reviewing the radio landscape in Singapore, SPH found a gap in the market when it comes to targeting men and jumped at the opportunity to create a station following the success of Kiss92, the only female-targeted radio station in Singapore by SPH.This move comes amidst various changes on the MediaCorp radio team. Earlier this year the broadcast house’s leading radio station Class 95 FM saw a number of shuffles within the talent division with the addition of  team Muttons in the Morning and the departure of radio DJs such as Ong, Cuylenburg and Bobby Tonelli.Ong who currently has a strong fan following of over 13.2K twitter followers and 9246 Instagram followers said: “I’m excited to be back on-air with a radio station that offers a promise of real, good radio. I’m raring to go after a six month break[…]I’m refreshed, re-energised, and ready to take on the airwaves again and there is no one else better to do it with than with my radio partner for life.” Ong left his role in MediaCorp in January this year and took on the role of director at a F&B and hospitality consulting firm Cir Vis. He will still be carrying on in this role.The Flying Dutchman, who left the airwaves in December 2014 to pursue his business ventures, added: “Together, we keep our show real and our reunion is the beginning of good things to come with a radio station that I believe knows what they are doing.”Jamie Meldrum, senior programme director said the two are the “perfect fit” for ONE FM 91.3.They have a great understanding of what their listeners want, which translates to great radio. Fans want them back and their radio comeback is highly anticipated. With the full ONE FM team all lined up, it is going to be an awesome year for ONE FM 91.3 and for the men of Singapore,” Meldrum said.The station also drummed up anticipation of the duo’s return over the last few weeks by asking listeners to take part in the “ Guess the DJ contest” where they stood a chance to win SG$10,000 cash for guessing the mystery DJs joining the station.