DWRR-FM


DWRR, broadcasting as MOR 101.9, is a commercial radio station owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation. The station is the flagship FM station of MOR Philippines. DWRR-FM is operated by the Manila Radio division and the Star Creatives Group. It is the number 1 FM radio station in Metro Manila, Mega Manila as well as the entire Philippines according to KBP Radio Research Council.
DWRR was founded in 1956 as one of the radio stations of Chronicle Broadcasting Network. It was revived in 1986 and reformatted several times, it is broadcast live throughout the Philippine archipelago, and throughout the world via The Filipino Channel. The studios are located at ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., corner Mo. Ignacia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City and its 22.5 kW FM stereo transmitter is located at the Eugenio Lopez Center, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, Rizal.
As of May 5, 2020, the station suspended its broadcasting activities, together with that of its television and sister radio stations, following the cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission due to the expiration of ABS-CBN's legislative franchise to operate. On August 31, 2020, MOR 101.9 will cease its operations, due to the franchise denial made by the House of Representatives.

History

DZYL-FM/DZYK-FM/DZMM-FM (1956–1972)

DZYL-FM 102 MHz, later named DZYK-FM 102.1 MHz, is the first FM radio station in the Philippines and sole FM station of the former Chronicle Broadcasting Network. DZYK-FM was founded in 1956 and played the latest pop songs of that time. In 1957, CBN bought Alto Broadcasting System resulting in a merger under the name Bolinao Electronics Corporation, later named ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation in 1967. Staffed by eight DJs, DZYK-FM 102.1 MHz was popularized to listeners in Greater Manila area. DZYK-FM remained as the FM radio station of ABS-CBN until the station was forced off the air by Ferdinand Marcos under martial law. In 1968, DZYK-FM moved to its current permanent frequency of 101.9 MHz, and changed its call letters to DZMM-FM.

DWWK-FM/OK 101 (1973–1986)

When martial law was declared in 1972, DZMM-FM along with ABS-CBN's two TV channels and six AM radio stations in Manila were shut down under strict censorship. The FM station was taken over by Roberto Benedicto and changed to DWOK-FM of the Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation, which had aired in 1973 as DWWK, a jazz format radio station. It was staffed by Jing Magsaysay, Wayne Enage, Ed Picson, Dody Lacuna, Ronnie Malig, Pinky Villarama and Ronnie Quintos. DWOK trailblazed another first in the Philippine radio industry at that time as the first AM-formatted FM station which features news, public service programs, and music from the 1950s to the 1970s. Helen Vela also came to the station in 1984 with her counselling program Lovingly Yours, Helen. However, DWOK, DWAN and BBC-2 had been dissolved since the government-controlled radio and TV stations were stormed by reformist rebels. It was given back to ABS-CBN after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, and returned on the air as DWKO — at that time it was on test broadcast.

Knock Out Radio (1986–1987)

The fall of the Marcos Regime in the immediate aftermath of the People Power Revolution had paved the way for the return of ABS-CBN in the Philippine broadcasting scene. In July 1986, then newly formed Presidential Commission on Good Governance turned two radio stations, DWWW and DWOK-FM, over to ABS-CBN from Marcos ally Roberto Benedicto. DWOK changed its callsign to DWKO and resumed broadcasting four months later. Lito Balquiedra Jr., Vice-President for Radio, spearheaded the return of the giant network to the local broadcasting scene. The station's former disc jockey Peter Musñgi has been the network's voice-over since the reopening in 1986. The slogan of the station was "Panalo Ka Talaga!", voiced by Peter Musñgi.
The network started recruiting both experienced and new employees and DJs. Prior to the adoption of masa format, all FM stations are English based with the use of the English language during the 1980s and 1990s. After days of careful planning and almost three months of test broadcast which took place on July 16 that year along with sister stations DZMM 630 and the parent station ABS-CBN Channel 2, DWKO was born – the first-ever FM radio station with an AM format, carrying the name Knock-Out Radio 101.9 on September 14, 1986 and playing the hits during that time. Since then, KO-Radio has aired Pinoy hits from singers of the 1970s and 1980s such as Rico J. Puno, Yoyoy Villame, APO Hiking Society. The station also debuted the songs of Original Pilipino Music stars like Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Janno Gibbs and Donna Cruz, as well as Filipino Christmas songs. DWKO-FM ended its broadcast on February 28, 1987, and became one of the shortest-lived iterations aired on the station in a span of almost 5 months.
During that time, the station operated daily from 5:00 am to 2:00 am.

Zoo FM (1987–1989)

On March 1, 1987, the station reformatted as Zoo FM 101.9, which is best known for its diamond logo and a slightly uptrend pop sound led to the introduction of OPM and disco hits. The jingles used for the station back then were produced by JAM Creative Productions. Manned by a group of eight DJs, the slogan of the station was Hayop Talaga!. It also served as the home of OPM stars like Gary V, Randy Santiago, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Sharon Cuneta, and others. Due to its popularity, Zoo FM 101.9 heavily played OPM songs after the implementation of by President Corazon Aquino and became a trend among listeners, because Zoo FM is being competed with other FM stations such as The Giant 97.1 WLS-FM, 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9, 89 DMZ, NU 107 and more. But because of massive competition from the rival WLS, Zoo FM decided to end its broadcast, having faltered from WLS's dominant listener ratings in January 1989. Two years later, DZOO-FM ended its broadcast on the night of July 15, 1989. Listeners and DJs bade goodbye to Zoo FM which gave its final broadcast, and with the last song, "Farewell" by Raymond Lauchengco.

Radio Romance (1989–1996)

On the morning of July 16, 1989, it reformatted again and this time it became popularly known as 101.9 Radio Romance, hence the initials RR, playing all easy-listening love songs manned by all-female jocks such as Amy Perez, and also became the first FM station, whose musical playlists were originated from compact discs. That year also signaled the station's first nationwide reach when 103.1 MHz Baguio simulcasted its signals, ensuring travelers from Manila to as far north as Ilocos Sur, uninterrupted listening of its programs, until it eventually simulcasted via satellite to other stations across the country in the early '90s. At the same time, OPM songs are also played on DWRR to produce its weekend OPM program every Sunday.
"Radio Romance" became a title of the movie and a theme song of the station composed by Jose Mari Chan during its popularity. On April 28, 1996 Radio Romance signed-off due to its station reformat.

WRR 101.9 (1996–2009)

On April 29, 1996, DWRR relaunched itself into a mainstream pop music station branded WRR 101.9 and it became the first FM radio station to be fully broadcast in Filipino language in order to compete with rival English-language FM stations such as GMA Network's Campus Radio 97.1 WLS, Magic 89.9 and 99.5 RT. Before the end of that year, all ABS-CBN FM stations started to broadcast in their native languages switching from English. Initially, its slogan was All the Hits, All the Time!. On November 2, 1998, WRR adapted the tagline For Life!, giving life to listeners with entertainment. In late 1999, DWRR transmitting equipment moved from ABS-CBN Broadcast Center which was used before martial law to the new transmitter tower at the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo City due to the upgrading of the Millennium Transmitter.
In July 2005, the WRR brand was dropped from the name and adapted the slogan Alam Mo Na 'Yan!, lasting from July 2005 to October 2008. In November 2008, the station changed its slogan to Bespren!.
The station had its last broadcast under the 101.9 For Life! brand on September 19, 2009 and underwent a transition period playing automated music in preparation for a relaunch of DWRR-FM's new branding on October 1, 2009. However, due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy in Manila, the station rebrand was postponed for almost a month. For the time being, DWRR-FM temporarily went under the name "ABS-CBN 101.9 FM" or simply "101.9".
The postponed relaunch was set on November 4, 2009. Prior to the announcement of the launch date, the station's DJs began providing live spiels again every top of the hour since October 12. But as part of the ongoing transition, the jocks never mentioned its former brand or slogan & the format of the station's SMS syntax except the text hotline itself.

Tambayan (2009–2013)

On November 4, 2009 at 9:00 pm, there was a broadcast about the history of DWRR. Following that, the station was relaunched as Tambayan 101.9 starting with the theme song & live debut at a venue in Makati. Tambayan launched its video streaming called Tambayan TV where DJs are seen live from the booth. In between songs playing, some information plugs were seen. Just like DZMM Teleradyo, plugs were also aired during commercial gaps. Tambayan TV is aired 24 hours over the Internet.
The station was also launched via HD Radio technology.
In May 2013, ABS-CBN Corporation decided to drop the Tambayan brand and revert to the name "ABS-CBN 101.9 FM" or "101.9", due to management decision and signifying another rebranding of the station.

MOR For Life! (2013–2020)

On July 8, 2013 at midnight, 101.9 FM rebranded as MOR 101.9 My Only Radio For Life!. Regular programming began at 5:00am, with Joco Loco, Maki Rena & Eva Ronda as the first jocks to go on board. DJs from WRR 101.9 For Life! were still part of the on-air team, as well as DJs from the former Tambayan 101.9 roster and Onse ). The rebranding of this station created a unified brand for ABS-CBN's FM radio stations nationwide, which are under the MOR station brand. This also reverts the slogan of the station's second incarnation of "For Life" which was first used during the WRR 101.9 For Life! era. At the same time, the station pioneered the face of drama broadcasting on the FM band by launching the daily drama anthology program Dear MOR.
In June 2018, MOR Manila and its regional stations announced its rebrand as MOR Philippines. The new brand will connect 101.9 and its provincial stations with unified program brands and strong music choices; thus, the new tagline "One Vibe, One Sound." Under the new system, some of MOR Manila's shows may be converted as national programs; but plans have not yet been discussed at this moment. National programming blocks began in its first phase on August 11, 2018, with the station's launch of Dyis Is It and MOR Presents with David Bang.
On June 1, 2019, MOR 101.9 video streaming is seen on Sky Cable Channel 239 replacing Sony Channel Asia. It can be seen on Channel 240 and Channel 241.
On March 2020, the station implements a scaled-down programming operation due to the present situation and conditions affecting the radio station's staff due to the enhanced quarantine against COVID-19. On the same day, the station began its hookup with the sister AM-station DZMM Radyo Patrol 630.
On May 5, 2020, the station temporarily signed off at exactly 7:52 pm after TV Patrol together with sister stations ABS-CBN, S+A, and DZMM due to Cease and Desist Order of the National Telecommunications Commission ordering the network to suspend operations until the legislative license issue is resolved. DJ Jhai Ho was the last DJ to go onboard, with his valedictory message, with an underscore of Yeng Constantino's "Salamat" as the last song to be broadcast by the station; after that, the MOR Philippines station ID was played for the last time before signing off.
On 15 July 2020, ABS-CBN announced the painful pronouncement to its employees that the company will go into retrenchment on August 31, laying-off much of its employees. The following day in an episode of Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo, DJ Chacha, anchor of Dear MOR and formerly Heartbeats confirmed that the radio station will fold on the said retrenchment date.

MOR 101.9 DJs

As an independent station

MOR is also broadcast to 15 provincial stations in the Philippines.