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DWFM (92.3 FM), broadcasting as FM Radio 92.3, is a radio station owned by Nation Broadcasting Corporation and operated by Philippine Collective Media Corporation. It serves as the flagship station of the FM Radio Philippines network. The station's studio is located at 5th Floor, The Ignacia Place, 155 Mother Ignacia corner, Sgt. Esguerra Ave, Barangay South Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City; its transmitter is located at NBC compound, Block 3, Emerald Hills, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo. It operates daily from 5:00 am to 12:00 midnight.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Mega Manila and surrounding areas |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 92.3 MHz (HD Radio) (FM Stereo) |
| Branding | FM Radio 92.3 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Filipino |
| Format | Contemporary MOR, OPM |
| Network | Favorite Music Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nation Broadcasting Corporation |
| Operator | Philippine Collective Media Corporation (outright acquisition of the frequency pending) |
| Through PCMC: DWPM (Radyo 630) Through NBC: DWNB-TV | |
| History | |
First air date | 1973 |
Former call signs | DZRU (1998–2007) |
Former names |
|
Call sign meaning | Frequency Modulation Favorite Music Radio Ferdinand Martin Romualdez |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | NTC |
| Power | 25,000 watts |
| ERP | 75,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 14°36′25.564″N 121°09′48.557″E / 14.60710111°N 121.16348806°E |
| Repeater(s) |
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| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
History
edit1973–1998: MRS
editDWFM signed on in 1973 as MRS 92.3 (MRS meaning Most Requested Song), Manila's third FM station at that time. Having an adult contemporary format during its existence, the station is known for playing the most requested song every hour. DWFM quickly became the top-rated FM station in Manila, and held this title for most of its existence. The success of DWFM led NBC to establish other FM stations using a similar format, including Cebu's DYNC in 1975, and Davao's DXFM.
Its first home was in Jacinta Building 1 along Pasay Road (near the Ayala Center complex). It later on moved to the NBC Tower/Jacinta Building 2 (now as ACQ Tower) along EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati.
1998–2007: Joey
editIn September 1998, NBC was acquired by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., a broadcasting company owned by the PLDT's Beneficial Trust Fund from the consortium of the Yabut family and then House Speaker Manny Villar. In November 1998, DWFM switched to a smooth jazz station as Joey @ Rhythms 92.3 (also known as Joey @ 92.3). Radio executive Francis Lumen assumed the position of president and CEO bringing with him his previous 10 years of managing Citylite 88.3 (now Jam 88.3). The call letters were also changed to DZRU.
The jazz format would also be implemented on all of NBC's other FM stations, who used other female names for their branding. It was also during this period that NBC entered into a joint venture with MTV Asia for an MTV Philippines feed via NBC's UHF Network (Channel 41). It also featured new-age instrumental music during the Paschal Triduum of the annual Holy Week during that era, which is dubbed as "Take 20".
In 2004, the Rhythms tag was dropped, thus becoming 923 Joey (pronounced as "nine-two-three"), with the station slogan "It's a Groove Thing". In January 2007, the station was taken over by new management, led by radio executives Raymund Miranda and Al Torres (currently as a voiceover for GMA Network, GTV, Heart of Asia Channel, I Heart Movies and Pinoy Hits currently based in Canada), along with sales executive Amy Victa. Together with the new team, the butterfly was dropped from the logo and the official call letters were returned to DWFM, the original call letters of the station.
2007–2009: XFM
editOn Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, the station was relaunched as 92.3 xFM, airing downtempo, trip hop and house music. It also reverted its call letters back to DWFM. In August 2007, easy listening tracks were added to the station's playlist, which led to the scrapping of the electronica format in January 2008.
In February 2008, the station reverted to its smooth jazz format. Now known as XFM 92.3, it adopted the slogans "Stress Free Radio", "Cool, Hip, Light, Smooth and all that Jazz" and "Light N Up!".[1]
2009–2010: U92
editOn October 1, 2009, All Youth Channels, owner of the now-defunct MTV Philippines, took over the station's operations and rebranded it as U92 with the youth-oriented slogan "Cool To Be U". It carried a contemporary hit radio format, which was also tightly cross-promoted and shared talent with MTV Philippines, which had been broadcast by NBC's stations until mid-2007 when AYC took over the MTV franchise in the country and converted it to a cable-only service. Thus, the on-air personalities are a mix of former and current MTV Philippines VJ's, celebrities and career radio people. At that time, its studios moved from NBC Tower to Silver City Mall in Pasig.
On October 1, 2010, U92 transitioned to a fully automated station, eight months after MTV Philippines shut down on February 15, which signified another branding to the station.[2]
2010–2024: Radyo5
edit
On November 8, 2010, after almost a month of test broadcast, DWFM made another first in the history of FM radio broadcasting in the Philippines, as the station flipped to a news/talk format as Radyo5 92.3 News FM; becoming the flagship station for a new radio network operated in conjunction with the news department of TV5 (which PLDT media subsidiary MediaQuest recently acquired a majority stake of in earlier in the year). At that time the station's studios moved again from Silver City Mall in Pasig to TV5 Studio Complex in Novaliches, Quezon City. The move came as part of a plan to expand TV5's news operation in order to become more competitive with the other major networks, which also included the launch of a news network on NBC's television stations, AksyonTV (which also simulcasts some of its programming until its shutdown in 2019).[3][4] Most of the personalities are former anchors and reporters from different AM-radio stations in Mega Manila including Neil Ocampo, Laila Chikadora, Cheryl Cosim, Cristy Fermin, Raffy Tulfo, Nina Taduran, Ruel Otieco, JV Arcena, Sharee Roman (from DZXL), Arnell Ignacio, Shalala (from DZBB), Izza Reniva-Cruz (from Veritas 846), Zony Esguerra (from DZME), and Arnold "Popoy" Rei (from MOR 101.9).
In less than six months under the new format, Radyo5 ranked as the fourth most listened to FM stations in Metro Manila.[5] In March 2012, the Radio Research Council ranked Radyo5 as the number 1 news radio station in the market in a survey of motorists.[6] Afterwards, in 2013, Radyo5 was declared again by the PSRC Car Coincidental Survey as the most preferred & listened FM station for public utility vehicles including jeepneys, taxis and FX.[7]
On December 23, 2013, Radyo5 transferred its studios from the TV5 Studio Complex in Novaliches, Quezon City to their new home at TV5 Media Center along Reliance Street, Mandaluyong.[8]
In 2017, a series of budget cuts were imposed by TV5's management. Among those affected were Radyo5's overnight operations. The network changed broadcast times twice until February 16, 2018, when they made a permanent daily 20-hour run (4:00 am until midnight), adding music content during early morning and late-night (except during radio coverage of doubleheader PBA game days).
On November 8, 2022, coinciding with the 12th anniversary of the station, it launched its new slogan "Ito ang Totoong Tunog ng Serbisyo Publiko" (transl. "This is the True Sound of Public Service").
During TV5's trade launch, Radyo5 announced its plans for its relaunching scheduled January 23, 2023, along with new programs, and its renewed expansion to key cities nationwide.[9]
On March 8, 2023, Radyo5 changed its sub-brand to True FM and adopted the slogan "Dito Tayo sa Totoo!" (transl. "Here we are for the truth!"), along with its first-ever jingle composed and arranged by Francis de Veyra.[10] In addition, it debuted its radio dramas, including its first-ever radio drama, Sana Lourd, which also airs live on the station's Facebook page.
On May 1, 2024, Radyo5 launched another TeleRadyo channel True FM TV, which is exclusive on Cignal Channel 19.
One PH
editAfter the shutdown of AksyonTV on January 13, 2019, Radyo5 programs began broadcasting in a Cignal-exclusive "teleradyo" channel, One PH, which was initially launched on February 18 and officially launched on July 31. Coinciding with the said launch, Radyo5 was added with new studios and programs, and re-extended its weekday broadcast hours.
Starting August and September 2019, selected Radyo5 and One PH programs (Morning Calls, One Balita, One Balita Pilipinas, Wag Po! and Turbo Time with Mike and Lindy) begin its airing on either simulcast or delayed basis on TV5 as part of programming revamp spearheaded by TV5 Network's new CEO Jane Basas.
On March 17, 2020, Radyo5, along with One PH, temporarily suspended its regular programming as an effect of the Luzon-wide "enhanced community quarantine" against COVID-19. The radio station aired the special edition of One News Now and automated music throughout the day. However, regular programs resumed after a few months.
In December 2020, Cignal TV and Philstar Media Group took over the operations and programming of Radyo5, respectively. With this development, some of the station's programs aired their respective final episodes during the final weeks of December 2020. On January 1, 2021, One PH's programming (except for overnight slots) have been integrated to the programming schedule of Radyo5 and all the music blocks have been removed. The new management retained the radio coverage rights of PBA games, in which its existing exclusive contract between PBA and One Sports (formerly Sports5 and ESPN5) expired by the end of 2022.
The integrated programming of Radyo5 and One PH ended upon the launch of the former's new inhouse programs in January 2023. Starting January 29, 2023, its integrated Sunday programming, except for Healing Mass sa Veritas (simulcast from DZRV-AM) and Word of God Network, was axed and replaced it with new additional music programming. From May 2023 to November 2, 2024, Radyo5 added new music blocks to its Saturday programming.
2024–present: Acquisition by PCMC, Favorite Music Radio
editFrom October 26 to November 4, 2024, Favorite Music (FM) Radio of Prime Media-owned Philippine Collective Media Corporation (PCMC) conducted test broadcast on DWFM during True FM's off-air hours. This transition was part of an agreement wherein PCMC will lease DWFM from NBC/MediaQuest and eventually acquire most of NBC’s radio assets, except for its Cebu and Cagayan de Oro stations, thereby introducing Favorite Music Radio to the Mega Manila market.[11][12] In line with the transition, NBC rebranded Radyo5 as the True Network, a multimedia brand that extends the presence of True FM into other media platforms.[13]
On November 4, 2024, True FM signed-off for the last time at 12:00 AM on DWFM, with a farewell message narrated by NBC operations manager Cherry Bayle,[14] followed by Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine national anthem; the last song played as 92.3 Radyo5 True FM was "Out of My League" by Stephen Speaks. Despite this, its Facebook page was still named as 92.3 True FM until further notice. Following the sign-off, True FM, rebranded under the True Network, transferred its flagship operations to DWLA 105.9, owned by Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation, replacing Neo Retro under a blocktime agreement. Minutes later, FM Radio 92.3 began its test broadcast with programming emanating from Diliman, Quezon City. On the same day, NBC-owned stations in Baguio, Bacolod, Davao and General Santos, formerly affiliated with Radyo5, began simulcasting this station, although Baguio and Bacolod already had existing FM Radio stations on 94.3 FM and 91.1 FM, respectively. Its official broadcast began at 5:00 AM, with Good Vibes Morning as its inaugural program.
Notable personalities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Rise: The 92.3 xFM experience
- ^ It's cool to be U
- ^ TV5 allocates P10b to battle ABS-CBN, GMA-7 Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Manila Standard Today. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
- ^ TV5 claims to be No. 2 Archived January 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
- ^ 7 RadyoSingko: No. 4 in just 4 months Archived July 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Interaksyon. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ Surveys show Radyo Singko poised to beat AM news radio stations Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.Interaksyon. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ Radyo5 Remains No. 1 On The Road. Manila Bulletin Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ "Bagong Tahanan ng TV5 sa Mandaluyong, Silipin". News5 Everywhere. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
- ^ Ilang bago, upcoming shows ng Kapatid network, ipinasilip sa TV5 Trade Launch. News5Everywhere YouTube Channel. November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer (March 11, 2023). "Radyo5 rebrands as 92.3 Radyo5 TRUE FM". PhilStar Global. PhilStar Global Corp. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ "From DZMM to Radyo5-DWFM: Prime Media scoops up radio assets of MVP Group". Bilyonaryo. October 27, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "Lipat bahay: MVP moves Radyo5-True FM to another station as PCMC takes over 92.3 frequency". Bilyonaryo. October 28, 2024.
- ^ "NBC, PCMC in radio asset transfer talks". BusinessWorld. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ de Castro, Isagani Jr. (November 10, 2024). "Manny Pangilinan's media firm jumpstarts FM radio business". Rappler. Retrieved November 12, 2024.