DZRH
DZRH is a 24-hour commercial news/talk/drama radio station serving Mega Manila market, which serves as the flagship radio station of the Manila Broadcasting Company in the Philippines. The station has nationwide coverage via its relay stations located within the Philippines. The station's studio is located at Design Center of the Philippines, Vicente Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City ; while its transmitter is located at I. Marcelo Street, Brgy. Malanday, Valenzuela City.
DZRH is the oldest radio station in the Philippines and it is a member of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas or KBP. The station celebrated its 80th anniversary last July 15, 2019.
History
The Heacock era
DZRH first went on air as KZRH on July 15, 1939, after being founded by Samuel Gaches, the owner of H. E. Heacock Company, a department store based in Escolta, Binondo, Manila, with Hal Bowie as the station's first ever announcer to grace the airwaves for the first time. KZRH, which was then broadcasting using the frequency of 650 kHz with the power of 10,000 watts; and became the fourth commercial radio station in the Philippines. Later in 1940, it bought KZRC from Isaac Beck in Cebu City. KZRH's radio broadcasts centered on musical, variety shows, comedy skits and short newscasts. Jazz and ballads became standard fare. At that time, KZRH broadcasts were in English language.During the Second World War, the Imperial Japanese troops took over the stations, and KZRH was rebranded PIAM, becoming a tool for the Second Republic's propaganda.
The birth and expansion of DZRH
After World War II, the Elizalde brothers 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. In June 1946, the Elizaldes established KZRH as the flagship of the country's pioneer radio network under the Manila Broadcasting Company.KZRH returned to the airwaves on July 1, 1946. 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. With this, the station gradually gave way to Tagalog language broadcasts.
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, and has been expanded to over 30 stations nationwide. The same year, MBC launched its sister station in Manila, DZMB and DZPI.
In 1949, DZRH began airing the first radio drama, Gulong ng Palad. Radio drama is one of the traditions of Philippine radio before the rise of television industry and continues until today this time on the FM band.
Martial Law era
In 1972, when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, DZRH was temporarily closed for a few months. It was reopened but only under strict government censorship. It was the only other time in DZRH’s history since the Second World War that the station's broadcast operations were interrupted. Upon resumption of broadcasts, DZRH gained a new studio complex at San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City at that time.In November 1978, DZRH moved from 650 kHz to the current frequency at 666 kHz due to the switch of the Philippine AM dial from the NARBA-mandated 10 kHz spacing to the 9 kHz rule implemented by the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975. In the same year, DZRH launched Operation Tulong, a socio-civic organization that helps the people in time of need.
In February 1986, the station covered the controversial snap elections and the ensuing People Power Revolution that peacefully deposed President Marcos and installed President Corazon Aquino.
Post-People Power Revolution
In 1988, DZRH moved from the former studio at San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City, to its new studio location at FJE Bldg., Makati City.In 1989, DZRH celebrated its 50th golden anniversary by launching "50 Taon ng Radyo" on Sunday, July 23, 1989. Ceremonies and events held at Rizal Memorial Stadium and Araneta Coliseum included parades, games, concerts, as well as outdoor and indoor fireworks displays.
In 1991, radio veteran Joe Taruc joined the station, where he hosted Damdaming Bayan which is now the longest-running public affairs program, as well as a morning newscast. Aside from being a newscaster, he was also station manager, and later, Senior Vice-President until his death in September 2017.
In 1994, as part of their 55th anniversary, DZRH launched its own nationwide satellite radio broadcast reaching 97% of the Philippine populace. Thus, the slogan is "One Nation, One Station"; and at the same time, DZRH became the first AM station to broadcast in full AM stereo signal, equipped with an upgraded 50,000 watt solid-state digital transmitter. It also bought some of the broadcast veterans such as Jay Sonza, Rey Langit and Ka Louie Beltran.
In July 2002, DZRH, along with other MBC stations, transferred from FJE Bldg. in Makati, to its current studios at MBC Building, Sotto St., CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
In October 2007, DZRH once again ventured into television broadcasting with the launch of DZRH RadyoVision, which was renamed RHTV in 2008 and DZRH News Television in 2013. The channel is currently being seen on Cignal Channel 18, SkyCable Channel 129, CableLink Channel 3 and some cable TV affiliates nationwide, on Digital Terrestrial TV via Channel 43 in Cebu City, and Channel 39 in Bacolod; and worldwide via livestreaming on their official website. It is also the first cable channel to broadcast via Facebook Live by mirroring the live stream of DZRH News Television to the Facebook servers.
In 2009, DZRH celebrated its 70th anniversary by launching of the "Fiesta Sitenta" as well as the launch of its first ever theme song commissioned for the station. In the final quarter of 2011, DZRH did changes in their programming line-up as well as the adoption of the new slogan "RH Agad!". In 2012, DZRH launched its new slogan, "Ang Makabagong Bayanihan" and also includes the theme song of the station.
DZRH celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on July 15, 2014 at the Manila Hotel with the launching of the coffee-table book and the special commemorative stamp courtesy of PhilPost. In 2015, DZRH celebrated its 76th anniversary with the theme 76 Taon ng Balita at Serbisyo. In 2016, DZRH celebrated its 77th anniversary with the theme "77 Years: Serbisyong tapat sa inyo". In 2017, DZRH celebrated its 78th anniversary with the theme "78 taon ng Tamang Balita at Tamang Serbisyo sa Bawat Pilipino". In 2018, DZRH celebrated its 79th anniversary with the theme "Walong Dekada ng Tamang Pagbabalita at Tamang Paglilingkod".
In October 2018, DZRH again aired its classic top-of-the-hour ID once, although the 2012 "Ang Makabagong Bayanihan" station ID continues to air on a regular basis. On the same month, DZRH launched its new slogan, "DZRH: Ang Kaunaunahan sa Pilipinas" in preparations for the 80th anniversary of the station in 2019.
On October 2, 2019, the studios of DZRH in MBC Building, along with its sister MBC Manila radio stations, were affected by a major fire that originated in the nearby Star City theme park, prompting the station to suspend regular programming. In interim, DZRH broadcasts from its backup studio in BSA Twin Towers, where the transmitters of its FM counterparts are located, where it played automated music throughout the day. Regular programming resumed at the following day at 4 am, with video streaming for the station's social media accounts and simulcast nationwide satellite
relay feed restored later; but the audio live streaming and DZRH News Television channel for cable, DTH and regional digital TV remained off air until November 26 only on TV. On November 11, DZRH moved its studio at Design Center of the Philippines which is near the MBC Building.
On March 2020, DZRH temporarily suspends its regular programming, especially radio dramas and DZRH News Television programs, in line with the enhanced community quarantine imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which replaced them with news updates.