HITZ new radio announcer was announced at the conclusion of their five week
announcer search campaign
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KUALA LUMPUR, 8 May 2026 – HITZ has officially announced Zach Ryan as its newest announcer following the conclusion of #NEXTONHITZ, the station’s talent search campaign aimed at discovering and developing the next generation of Malaysian radio and digital personalities.
Created to spotlight emerging young talent, NEXTONHITZ drew strong engagement throughout its run, attracting aspiring broadcasters and creators from across the country. The initiative reflects HITZ’s continued focus on building fresh, audienceconnected talent for today’s evolving media landscape.
The finale and winner announcement took place at Tribeca Serviced Hotel by Millenium, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, and was streamed live on HITZ’s official TikTok account, allowing audiences to follow the competition in real time across digital platforms.
Speaking on the campaign, HITZ Brand Manager Sean Farrell Matjeraie said #NEXTONHITZ was designed to uncover personalities who can genuinely connect with young Malaysians across both radio and digital platforms.
“Radio today is more than just being good on-air. We were looking for personalities who are creative, adaptable, confident, and able to connect with audiences on whatever platform they are consuming content,” he said.
“At HITZ, chemistry with the audience is everything. #NEXTONHITZ gave us the opportunity to discover new talent with strong personality, fresh ideas, and the energy that reflects the station.”
Over the course of two weeks, contestants took part in a series of challenges designed to test their communication skills, creativity, adaptability, and on-camera presence. Challenges included interviews with celebrities, on-air hosting tasks, video content creation, and segment development.
“Each challenge was intentionally designed to push contestants beyond their comfort zones and test their resourcefulness and resilience. We wanted to see how they handled pressure, adapted creatively, and connected with audiences across multiple formats,” he added.
The final results announced during the finale are as follows:
Champion: Zach Ryan
Prize: 1 Year Full Time Radio Announcer Contract worth RM50,000
Second Place: Dee Alimin
Prize: RM2,000
Third Place: Anne-Marie
Prize: RM1,000
Best Vlog: Adam Imanullah
Prize: Canon Powershot V1
In addition to the champion, finalists who placed second through fifth were also recognised for their outstanding talent and potential, with each receiving an offer for a part-time contract at HITZ.
Beyond the competition itself, #NEXTONHITZ also served as a platform for young Malaysians to explore opportunities within the entertainment, content, and broadcast industry.
“We hope participants walk away from this experience with more confidence in themselves and a clearer understanding of the opportunities available in the industry today. Whether it’s radio, digital content, hosting, or entertainment, there are now more pathways than ever for young talent to build a career and find their audience,” said Sean.
HITZ is part of the 13 networks under Astro Audio. As an English-language radio station, HITZ brings you the biggest hits, delivering hit music, entertainment, and youth culture content to audiences nationwide.
With 300,000 social media followers on TikTok, HITZ continues to dominate as the go-to music brand for music and pop culture. Besides tuning in via radio frequency, fans can follow HITZ on its official social media platforms or download the HITZ app from the App Store, Play Store and Huawei AppGallery.
HITZ - Malaysia's #1 hit music station!
