POWERING UP THE AIRWAVES

Still riding high on the vigour of last year's revamp, Power 98FM is all geared up to win your hearts and more.

It began as a small radio station set up by SAFRA and broadcasted in all Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps to inform National Servicemen of defence-related news.

Today, Power 98FM has evolved into a "lifestyle info-tainment" station. Its line-up now includes a variety of topics - from the latest trends to where the best makan places are to the top getaway places for the weekend.

Must-listen segments

As part of a revamp last March, it moved away from hard rock music and changed its music to focus on tunes from the 90s as well as current hits, catering to listeners who have grown up with the station.

And catering to Singaporeans' growing interest in travel, Power 98FM is sending one listener and his or her partner on a holiday somewhere - from New York to Paris to Bali - every month in a special contest called Around the World on Power 98FM.

Yet amid these changes, Power 98FM is still very much your National Serviceman station, with segments like Own Time Own Target (OTOT) still going strong. The segment was started in 1994 and retains its NS (National Service) flavour despite undergoing several changes.

From an hour-long programme that informs and entertains NS guys tuning in, OTOT has grown more entertaining over the years with the introduction of a different theme on certain days - such as Tone up Tuesdays and Women s Wednesday.

The DJs - Michael Tan (Mike) and JK - also spice up the programme by inviting military personnel to join them on air. Some of the guests they have had include commandos, naval divers and elite paratroopers, the Red Lions.

JK, who has been a DJ with Power 98FM for almost four years, said: "I've interviewed people from almost every vocation and I ve found out things that I never knew about the military.

"I also got to follow the Red Lions onto the helicopter before a jump! I could see and feel one thing: focus. Even though they were up in the air for so long (45 minutes or more), they were just seated there - focused and replaying what they re going to be doing over and over again in their minds."

Besides hosting their respective radio segments, the DJs take turns to host Recruits' Evenings in Pulau Tekong and go down to different camps during lunchtime to do hour-long programmes that help Full-time National Servicemen to bond in a fun and entertaining way.

"We provide them some entertainment during their lunch time and thank them for serving the nation. We also play games, give out lots of gifts and let them make dedications on air. And we do it voluntarily," elaborated JK.

New year plans

Moving ahead, Power 98FM s theme for 2014 is Empowering People. A new series called Empower You will invite listeners to share their New Year resolutions, and the station will help one lucky listener every month to fulfil his or her target.

In line with the theme, the station is also looking at corporate social responsibility in a new series called Power to Do Good and is in the midst of planning charitable events or activities that they can do with their listeners.

With its upcoming line-up, it seems this radio station is more than ready to take on the world. As Mike put it: "Power 98FM has always been the underdog station. All the good stuff that we're doing has been through sheer hard work, dedication and passion. And when we succeed, it s more rewarding and satisfying."

Catch these shows during the weekdays on Power 98FM!

THE POWER BREAKFAST SHOW (6am 10am)
With Hubert Tang, Jamie Yeo & Sonja Steinmetz

LUNCH (10am 2pm)
With Elliott Danker

AFTERNOONS (2pm 4pm)
With Charmaine Phua

THE EX-FACTOR (4pm 8pm)
With Jacqui Thibodeaux & Mister Young

THE NIGHT DRIVE (9pm 12am)
With JK & Mike