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).
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).[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 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.[7]
1960s to Marcos dictatorship
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 President Ferdinand Marcos attending the ceremony.[9][10]
When Marcos declared martial law in September 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 (DZRH-TV) to operate was denied by the National Telecommunications Commission, stating that it is "not legally, technically, and financially qualified".[11] The channel was later acquired by Eddie Villanueva's ZOE Broadcasting Network and renamed DZOE-TV in 1998.[12][13][14]
In 1994, DZRH relaunched itself as "One Nation, One Station" by launching the first nationwide satellite broadcast.
Acquisitions, new networks, and changes
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. That same year, its legislative franchise was renewed for another 25 years.[15]
2019 fire, rebranding
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.[16] 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! along with the new logos of all MBC radio stations.[17]
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][18][19]
