MBC Media Group

Last updated

Manila Broadcasting Company
MBC Media Group
Company type Public
PSE:  MBC
Industry Mass media
FoundedJune 12, 1946;77 years ago (1946-06-12)
Founders
HeadquartersMBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard,
Pasay, Metro Manila
,
Philippines
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Brands
Services Radio and television broadcasting, Digital media
RevenueIncrease2.svg PHP1.1 billion (FY 2020)
Increase2.svgPHP168.7 million (FY 2020)
Decrease2.svgPHP94.3 million (FY 2020)
Total assets Increase2.svgPHP2.6 trillion (FY 2020)
Total equity Increase2.svgPHP1.4 trillion (FY 2020)
Owners
  • Elizalde Holdings Corporation (34.7%)
  • Elizalde Land, Inc. (21.6%)
  • Other (17.4%)
    Public stock (26.3%)
Number of employees
124 (FY 2015)
Parent FJE Group of Companies
Divisions
  • MBC Radio
  • MBC TV
  • MBC Digital
  • MBC Events
  • MBC Promos
  • MBC Talents
Subsidiaries see list
Website mbcmediagroup.com
Footnotes /references
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The Manila Broadcasting Company, doing business as the MBC Media Group, [1] is a multimedia company in the Philippines. MBC Media Group is currently owned by the FJE Group of Companies of Fred J. Elizalde, which also operates hotels and Pasay-based amusement park, Star City. Its AM flagship network, DZRH is the oldest radio station in the country while its FM flagship network, Love Radio is the top station in FM radio ratings in Metro Manila (from 2002 until 2017, and again in 2020) and several key cities and provinces.

Contents

MBC Media Group's corporate headquarters and studios are located at the MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Pasay, Metro Manila.

MBC Media Group currently focuses on six business ventures namely, terrestrial radio, television (digital and pay TV), digital media, events, on-air and on-ground promotions and talent management for its roster of Radio DJs. It forms its own network group with six national brands, specifically, DZRH radio and DZRHTV, Aksyon Radyo, Love Radio, Yes FM, Easy Rock, and Radyo Natin; operated either directly by MBC Media Group, or through its affiliate-licensees Pacific Broadcasting Systems, Cebu Broadcasting Company, and Philippine Broadcasting Corporation.

History

The Heacock era

The origins of MBC can be traced to DZRH, which first went on air as KZRH on the morning of July 15, 1939, by the Heacock Company, a prominent department store based in Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila. Years later, it bought KZRC (now DYRC) from Isaac Beck in Cebu City. The Japanese took over the stations and KZRH became PIAM (Philippine Islands AM) for their propaganda use.

The birth of MBC and DZRH

After World War II, the Elizalde brothers (Federico "Fred", Joaquin Miguel "Mike" and Manuel "Manolo") took over KZRH and KYRC. With the help of station manager Bertrand Silen, KZRH transferred its operations to the Insular Life Building in Plaza Cervantes. On June 12, 1946, the Elizaldes established the network under the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). [2]

KZRH returned to the airwaves on July 1, 1946. At the same day, MBC launched KZMB. On July 4, 1946, it aired the live coverage of the Philippine independence from the United States and the inauguration of the third Philippine Republic.

In 1948, after the international telecommunications conference in the United States where the Philippines changed its first letter to "D", KZRH changed its callsign to DZRH (with the station expanded to over 30 stations nationwide) while KZMB changed also its callsign to DZMB .

In 1949, DZRH began airing the first radio drama, Gulong ng Palad . At the same year, MBC launched its another radio station, DZPI (the station was then renamed as DWIZ in 1972, until it was later sold to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation in 1991). [6]

Ben Aniceto began his long media career, working with DZRH, DZMB, and DZPI as a radio talent. [7]

In 1956, MBC moved to its own Radio Center along Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila. In the same year, Philippine radio gained popularity and AM radio became lucrative in what was considered as the golden years. [8]

1960s to Marcos dictatorship

When then-president Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, MBC was temporarily closed for a few months.

In 1975, MBC ventured into the FM band when its stations DZMB and other MBC music AM stations (such as DYBU in Cebu) moved to FM radio. This would become the nucleus of MBC's Love Radio Network.

The expansion of MBC

In 1985, Manolo Elizalde retired. His son, Fred J. Elizalde, became chairman and CEO.

After the People Power Revolution ended the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, MBC began to expand its FM stations (Love Radio Network) while DZRH continued to broadcast nationwide. Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. became a board member of MBC in 1988 before he became president of MBC.

In January 1992, the application of MBC and Springs Foundation's Channel 11 (DWXI-TV) to operate was denied by the National Telecommunications Commission, stating that it is "not legally, technically, and financially qualified". [9] The channel was later acquired by Eddie Villanueva's ZOE Broadcasting Network and renamed DZOE-TV in 1998. [10] [11] [12]

In 1994, DZRH relaunched itself as "One Nation, One Station" by launching the first nationwide satellite broadcast.

In July 2002, MBC studios were transferred from FJE Building in Makati to CCP Complex in Pasay.

MBC co-hosted the Aliwan Fiesta since 2003, in partnership with Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the cities of Manila and Pasay. Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City in Pasay wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant.

After 35 years, MBC returned to television with the launch of DZRH News Television on October 1, 2007.

Acquisitions, new networks, and changes

Logo used from 2002 to 2024, as Manila Broadcasting Company ManilaBctg.svg
Logo used from 2002 to 2024, as Manila Broadcasting Company

In 1995, MBC acquired DWKS-FM and changed its callsign to DWST as 101.1 Showbiz Tsismis. It lasts until 1998 and relaunched as Yes FM. During the 1990s, DYRC was spun off into Aksyon Radyo, established in 11 provincial AM stations.

On December 16, 1997, MBC launched Radyo Natin. Composed of 100 FM stations strategically across the nation by using state of the art satellite technology, Radyo Natin is able to reach audiences that has never been reached before by another radio station.

In January 1999, Hot FM was launched in Dagupan, Cebu City, General Santos and Zamboanga City, with more than 50 minor provincial radio stations (under the consortium with Radyo Natin).

In October 2008, MBC acquired DWRK from ACWS-United Broadcasting Network. Seven months later in May 2009, DWRK was relaunched as Easy Rock.

In 2017, Hot FM was unofficially ceased itself as most of the remaining Hot FM stations were rebranded and switched to Radyo Natin.

In 2018, MBC began to test broadcast its TV channel DZRH News Television on digital free TV using ISDB-T in Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo.

2019 fire, rebranding

The Design Center Building in CCP Complex, Pasay, home to MBC studios and offices from 2019 to 2021 Manila Broadcasting Company, Design Center Building (CCP Complex, Pasay; 12-13-2020) wiki.jpg
The Design Center Building in CCP Complex, Pasay, home to MBC studios and offices from 2019 to 2021

MBC main offices and studios were affected by a major fire that originated in the nearby theme park and sister company Star City on October 2, 2019. While regular programming for its AM station DZRH was suspended as a result of the fire, MBC Manila radio stations transferred its operations and broadcasts, in interim, at BSA Twin Towers, in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, where its FM transmitters are located. [13] One month later on November 11, the MBC studios and offices transferred again at the Design Center of the Philippines, which is near the MBC Building.

On November 15, 2021, after a two-year hiatus, MBC studios and offices returned to the newly renovated MBC Building at the Star City Complex (which was still under rehabilitation and reconstruction), except for DZRH which would later be relocated on December 17. On the same day, MBC relaunched its new corporate slogan, Sama-Sama Tayo, Pilipino! (lit. transl. Let's be together, Filipinos!) along with the new logos of all MBC radio stations. [14]

As MBC Media Group

On February 6, 2024, the Manila Broadcasting Company announced to adopt a new trade name as the MBC Media Group, while keeping MBC as its corporate name. The rebranding signify its diversification from broadcast media into other ventures such as digital media, events, promotions and talent management. [1] [15] [16]

Franchise renewal

On October 30, 2018, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11109 which renewed MBC's license for another 25 years. The law grants MBC a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes, radio broadcasting stations and television stations, including digital television system, with the corresponding facilities such as relay stations, throughout the Philippines. [17]

Assets

Divisions

MBC Radio

NetworkFormatLanguageYear of launchNotes
DZRH News, talk Tagalog 1939MBC's flagship AM network. Flagship station is 666 AM Manila with relay stations across the country.
Love Radio Contemporary MOR, OPM Tagalog 1975MBC's flagship FM network. Flagship station is 90.7 FM Manila.
Aksyon Radyo News, talk Tagalog
Various regional languages 		1995MBC's regional AM network. Flagship station is DYRC 648 AM Cebu.
Radyo Natin Community radio Tagalog
Various regional languages 		1997MBC's largest community radio network. Main feed is Radyo Natin Nationwide.
Yes FM Contemporary MOR, OPM Tagalog 1998Flagship station is 101.1 FM Manila.
Easy Rock Soft adult contemporary English 2009Flagship station is 96.3 FM Manila.
Defunct networks
NetworkFormatLanguageYearFate
Showbiz Tsismis Show business-centric talk radio Tagalog 1995–1998Replaced by Yes FM in 1998.
ComNet Community radio Tagalog 1990sReplaced by Radyo Natin in 1997.
Hot FM Tagalog 1999–2017Stations in Cebu, Dagupan, Cauayan and Zamboanga became part of the Yes FM network in 2014.
Other stations were either disaffiliated or became part of the Radyo Natin network in the same year.

MBC TV

NetworkFormatLanguageYear of launchNotes
DZRH News Television News Tagalog 2007A 24/7 news channel that simulcast selected programs from MBC's flagship AM network, DZRH.

Others

Subsidiaries and affiliates

Cebu Broadcasting Company
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry Radio network
Founded1947
Headquarters Pasay, Philippines
OwnerElizalde Holdings Corporation
Parent MBC Media Group
Website mbcmediagroup.com
Philippine Broadcasting Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry Radio network
Founded1948
Headquarters Pasay, Philippines
OwnerElizalde Holdings Corporation
Parent MBC Media Group
Website mbcmediagroup.com

Related Research Articles

DZRH is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group. It is the flagship station of MBC. The station's studio is located at the MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay; while its transmitter is located along I. Marcelo St., Brgy. Malanday, Valenzuela. The station has nationwide coverage through its relay stations located across the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DWIZ-AM</span> Radio station in Pasig

DWIZ is a radio station owned and operated by Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, a subsidiary of the ALC Group of Companies. It serves as the flagship station of the DWIZ network, which was established in late January 2023. The station's studio is located at the 5th Floor, Citystate Centre, 709 Shaw Boulevard, Brgy. Oranbo, Pasig, and its transmitter is located along Osmeña St., Brgy. Pag-Asa, Obando, Bulacan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DWRK</span> Radio station in Metro Manila, Philippines

DWRK, broadcasting as 96.3 Easy Rock, is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group. It serves as the flagship station of Easy Rock Network. The station's studio is located at the Second floor, MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, and its transmitter facilities are located at the BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, sharing the same site with sister stations 90.7 Love Radio and 101.1 Yes FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DZMB</span> Radio station in Pasay

DZMB, broadcasting as 90.7 Love Radio, is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group though its licensee Cebu Broadcasting Company. It serves as the flagship station of Love Radio Network. The station's studio is located at the Second Floor, MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay; while its transmitter is located at the BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, sharing the same site with 96.3 Easy Rock and 101.1 Yes FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DWYS</span> Radio station in Metro Manila, Philippines

DWYS, broadcasting as 101.1 Yes FM, is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group through its licensee Pacific Broadcasting System. It serves as the flagship station of Yes FM Network. The station's studio is located at the Second floor, MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, and its transmitter is located at the BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, sharing the same site with 90.7 Love Radio & 96.3 Easy Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential Broadcast Service</span> State-owned radio network in the Philippines

The Presidential Broadcast Service - Bureau of Broadcast Services (PBS-BBS), is a state radio network owned by the Philippine government under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radyo Natin</span> Philippine FM radio network

Radyo Natin is a community radio network owned by MBC Media Group. It has more than 100 stations across the Philippines spread from Batanes in the northernmost part to Bongao in the south. The network also runs its main feed known as Radyo Natin Nationwide, which broadcasts on 96.3 FM's HD2 channel.

DZRH-DTV is an upcoming digital TV station of the Philippine media network Manila Broadcasting Company that formerly and originally aired from April 11, 1962, to September 23, 1972 as an analog VHF television station, and had relay stations in 6 key cities in the Philippines. Its original studios were located at the old Jai Alai Building. It was one of the [analog era] TV stations were shut down permanently during the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos. Its upcoming studios will be located at MBC Building, in CCP Complex in Pasay City, near Star City.

Pacific Broadcasting System (PBSI) is a radio broadcast company in the Philippines. It is part of the FJE Group of Companies of the Elizalde family, which also operates hotels and Pasay-based amusement park Star City. Pacific Broadcasting's stations are being operated by Elizalde-owned TV and radio network MBC Media Group. Most of its AM stations in key provinces are relay stations of DZRH, while its flagship AM station is DXGO, a radio station in Davao City broadcasting as Aksyon Radyo Davao. PBSI's flagship FM station is DWYS 101.1 Manila which also serves as the flagship affiliate station to MBC's Yes FM Network, with most of its FM stations in the provinces are affiliated with MBC's other FM networks.

WRocK Online was a Metro Manila FM radio station and an Internet radio station owned by ACWS-United Broadcasting Network in the Philippines. As an FM radio station, it operated under the call sign and frequency DWRK at 96.3 MHz, a frequency now used by 96.3 Easy Rock. The main format of the station was soft rock music.

DZRH News Television is a Philippine pay television news channel owned by MBC Media Group. Its programs are primarily from MBC Media Group's flagship radio station DZRH and station-produced programs, occupied by the timeslots of radio dramas.

ACWS-United Broadcasting Network is a broadcast media company in the Philippines. It owns several radio stations in areas, as well as its focus on the Multipoint Video Distribution System (MVDS) for wireless broadcast distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Radio</span> Broadcast radio network in the Philippines

Love Radio is a broadcast FM radio network in the Philippines owned by MBC Media Group. Its headquarters are located at Cultural Center of the Philippine Complex, Pasay, Manila. The network's original format is easy-listening from 1975 until 2000 when Love Radio shifted to Contemporary MOR or more popularly known as the masa format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Bacolod</span> Metropolitan Area in Western Visayas, Philippines

The Bacolod Metropolitan Area, simply known as Metro Bacolod, is the 8th-most populous and the 6th-most densely populated metropolitan area out of the 12 metropolitan areas in the Philippines. This metropolitan area as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has an estimated population of 1,435,593 inhabitants as of the 2020 official census by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DYRC</span> Radio station in Cebu City

DYRCAksyon Radyo is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group. It serves as the flagship radio station of MBC's regional AM network Aksyon Radyo. The station's studio is located at 2nd Floor, GD Uyfang Bldg., Sanciangko cor. Panganiban, St., Brgy. Pahina Central, Cebu City, and its transmitter is located at Brgy. Tangke, Talisay, Cebu.

MBC TV Network News is the flagship Filipino language tri-media newscast of DZRH. It airs in the Philippines through DZRH News Television every weekday from 12 to 1 p.m. The newscast is being simulcast on 666 kHz in Manila and DZRH provincial relay stations if the station has special coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliw Theater</span> Events venue in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines

The Aliw Theater is an events venue in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, adjacent to the Star City amusement park and the MBC Media Group.

DZVI, broadcasting as 105.5 Radyo Natin is a radio station owned by the MBC Media Group and operated by the municipal affiliate LM Broadcast and Advertising. The station is located along Maharlika Highway, Brgy. San Felipe, Padre Garcia, Batangas.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rebranding for growth: Elizalde family introduces MBC Media Group". Bilyonaryo. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Articles of Incorporation 1946" (PDF). Manila Broadcasting Company. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Company Information". Philippine Stock Exchange.
  4. ↑ "PSE Edge - Manila Broadcasting Company - Financial reports". Philippine Stock Exchange . Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Media Ownership Monitor Philippines - Manila Broadcasting Company". VERA Files. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  6. ↑ Sallan, Edwin P.; Bonotan, Trixzy Leigh (January 30, 2023). "DWIZ revamps news programming, more changes happening within '23". BusinessMirror. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ "ABS-CBN's post-EDSA boss Ben Aniceto passes away". ABS-CBN News. March 21, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "WITNESS TO HISTORY – Manila Broadcasting Company". Manila Broadcasting Company. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  9. ↑ Paculan, Virgie (January 11, 1992). "Channel 11 denied permit to operate". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 19. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ Paras, Wilhelmina (1998). "Love Thy Neighbor?". Asiaweek . Manila: Asiaweek. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  11. ↑ Republic Act No. 7297 (March 26, 1992), An Act Granting Zoe Broadcasting Network, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations in the Island of Luzon and for Other Purposes , retrieved June 7, 2020
  12. ↑ Statistical Series on Metro Manila: "A Gateway to the Philippines", Part 2. National Statistical Coordination Board. 1999. p. 26. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Fire hits Star City compound".
  14. ↑ "MBC jumsptarts re-branding campaign with new station logos". dzrh.com.ph. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  15. ↑ Del Mundo, Ellicia (February 6, 2024). "#SamaSamaTayoPilipino: MBC unveils a fresh identity with new name, logo". DZRH News. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Manila Broadcasting Company is now MBC Media Group". DZRH News. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  17. ↑ Republic Act No. 11109 (October 30, 2018), An Act Granting the Manila Broadcasting Company a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations within the Philippines, and for Other Purposes
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