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![]() MBC Media Group Headquarters inPasay,Philippines | |
MBC Media Group | |
Company type | Public |
PSE: MBC | |
Industry | Mass media |
Founded | June 12, 1946; 79 years ago (1946-06-12) (radio broadcasts) April 11, 1962; 63 years ago (1962-04-11) (television broadcasts) |
Founders | |
Headquarters | MMG Building,Star City, V. Sotto St.,CCP Complex,Roxas Boulevard,, Philippines |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
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Brands | |
Services | Radio andtelevision broadcasting,Digital media |
Revenue | ![]() |
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Total assets | ![]() |
Total equity | ![]() |
Owners |
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Number of employees | 124 (FY 2015) |
Parent | FJE Group of Companies |
Divisions |
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Subsidiaries | see list |
Website | mbcmediagroup.com |
Footnotes / references [1][2][3][4] |
TheManila Broadcasting Company (MBC), doing business as theMBC Media Group,[1] is a multimedia company in thePhilippines. It is currently owned by the FJE Group of Companies of Fred J. Elizalde, which also operates hotels and Pasay-based amusement park,Star City. ItsAMflagship network,DZRH is the oldest radio station in the country while itsFMflagship 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.
MBC Media Group's corporate headquarters and studios are located at the MMG Building,Star City, V. 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 andDZRH News Television,Aksyon Radyo,Love Radio,Yes FM,Easy Rock, andRadyo Natin; operated either directly by Manila Broadcasting Company, or through its affiliate-licenseesPacific Broadcasting System, Cebu Broadcasting Company, and Philippine Broadcasting Corporation.
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 inEscolta Street,Binondo, Manila. Years later, it bought KZRC (nowDYRC) from Isaac Beck inCebu City. The Japanesetook over the stations and KZRH became PIAM (Philippine Islands AM) for their propaganda use.
AfterWorld War II, the Elizalde brothers (Federico "Fred",Joaquin Miguel "Mike" andManuel "Manolo") took over KZRH and KYRC. With the help of station manager Bertrand Silen, KZRH transferred its operations to the Insular Life Building inPlaza Cervantes. On June 12, 1946, the Elizaldes established the network under the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC).
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 toDZRH (with the station expanded to over 30 stations nationwide) while KZMB changed also its callsign toDZMB.
In 1949, DZRH began airing the firstradio drama,Gulong ng Palad. At the same year, MBC launched its another radio station, DZPI (the station was then renamed asDWIZ in 1972, until it was later sold toAliw Broadcasting Corporation in 1991).[5]
Ben Aniceto began his long media career, working with DZRH, DZMB, and DZPI as a radio talent.[6]
In 1956, MBC moved to its own Radio Center alongTaft Avenue inErmita,Manila. In the same year, Philippine radio gained popularity and AM radio became lucrative in what was considered as the golden years.[7]
On April 11, 1962, MBC (through its subsidiary, the Metropolitan Broadcasting Company) launched its TV station,DZRH-TV on VHF channel 11.[8] A new building for the TV station was inaugurated on January 9, 1972, with PresidentFerdinand Marcos attending the ceremony.[9][10]
When Marcos declaredmartial law in September 1972, MBC was temporarily closed for a few months.
In 1975, MBC ventured into the FM band when its stationsDZMB and other MBC music AM stations (such asDYBU in Cebu) moved to FM radio. This would become the nucleus of MBC'sLove Radio Network.
In 1985, Manolo Elizalde retired. His son, Fred J. Elizalde, became chairman and CEO.
After thePeople 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 (DZRH-TV) to operate was denied by theNational Telecommunications Commission, stating that it is "not legally, technically, and financially qualified".[11] The channel was later acquired byEddie Villanueva'sZOE Broadcasting Network and renamedDZOE-TV in 1998.[12][13][14]
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 inMakati toCCP Complex in Pasay.
MBC co-hosted theAliwan Fiesta since 2003, in partnership withCultural Center of the Philippines, and the cities ofManila andPasay. Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines inStar 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 ofDZRH News Television on October 1, 2007.
In 1995, MBC acquired DWKS-FM and changed its callsign to DWST as 101.1 Showbiz Tsismis. It lasts until 1998 and relaunched asYes FM. During the 1990s, DYRC was spun off intoAksyon Radyo, established in 11 provincial AM stations.
On December 16, 1997, MBC launchedRadyo 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 inDagupan, Cebu City,General Santos andZamboanga City, with more than 50 minor provincial radio stations (under the consortium with Radyo Natin).
In October 2008, MBC acquiredDWRK from ACWS-United Broadcasting Network. Seven months later in May 2009, DWRK was relaunched asEasy 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 usingISDB-T in Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo.
MBC main offices and studios were affected by amajor fire that originated in the nearby theme park and sister company Star City on October 2, 2019. While regular programming for its AM stationDZRH was suspended as a result of the fire, MBC Manila radio stations transferred its operations and broadcasts, in interim, atBSA Twin Towers, inOrtigas Center,Mandaluyong, where its FM transmitters are located.[15] 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.[16]
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][17][18]
On October 30, 2018,Philippine PresidentRodrigo 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.[19]
Network | Format | Language | Year of launch | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
DZRH | News,talk | Tagalog | 1939 | MBC's flagship AM network. Flagship station is666 AM Manila with relay stations across the country. |
Love Radio | Contemporary MOR,OPM | Tagalog | 1975 | MBC's flagship FM network. Flagship station is90.7 FM Manila. |
Aksyon Radyo | News,talk | Tagalog Various regional languages | 1995 | MBC's regional AM network. Flagship station isDYRC 648 AM Cebu. |
Radyo Natin | Community radio | Tagalog Various regional languages | 1997 | MBC's largest community radio network. Main feed isRadyo Natin Nationwide. |
Yes FM | Contemporary MOR,OPM | Tagalog | 1998 | Flagship station is101.1 FM Manila. |
Easy Rock | Soft adult contemporary | English | 2009 | Flagship station is96.3 FM Manila. |
Network | Format | Language | Year | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
DWIZ | Contemporary MOR,OPM,News,talk | English,Tagalog | 1949–1991 | Acquired byAliw Broadcasting Corporation in 1991. |
Showbiz Tsismis | Show business-centrictalk radio | Tagalog | 1995–1998 | Replaced by Yes FM in 1998. |
ComNet | Community radio | Tagalog | 1990s | Replaced by Radyo Natin in 1997. |
Hot FM | Tagalog | 1999–2017 | Stations 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. |
Network | Format | Language | Year of launch | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
DZRH News Television | News | Tagalog | 2007 | A 24/7 news channel that simulcast selected programs from MBC's flagship AM network,DZRH. |
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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Radio network |
Founded | 1947 |
Headquarters | Pasay,Philippines |
Owner | Elizalde Holdings Corporation |
Parent | MBC Media Group |
Website | mbcmediagroup.com |
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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Radio network |
Founded | 1948 |
Headquarters | Pasay,Philippines |
Owner | Elizalde Holdings Corporation |
Parent | MBC Media Group |
Website | mbcmediagroup.com |
(Speech of President Marcos at the inauguration of the new M.B.C. Channel 11 building, January 9, 1972)