Radio Philippines Network

As Kanlaon Broadcasting System (1960–1975)

Early years (1960–1972)

Radio Philippines Network was founded on February 25, 1960, by James Lindenberg, who was also credited as the founder of ABS-CBN.[3][1] RPN was officially established when the Congress of the Philippines approved its franchise on June 19, 1960.[4]

RPN initially operated as a radio network, with its first station, DZBI, based in Manila. By 1967, it had expanded to seven radio stations nationwide, including DZRR and DZAX in Manila, DZBS in Baguio, DZTG in Tuguegarao, DZRL in Laoag (later relocated to Batac), DXXX in Zamboanga, and DXDX in Barangay Dadiangas. Ben Aniceto served as operations director during this time.[5]

In the late 1960s, Lindenberg sold the network to Roberto Benedicto

Martial law KBS years and takeover of ABS-CBN (1972–1975)

On September 23, 1972, the KBS television and radio stations and the newspaper publication Philippines Daily Express, all belonging to the Roberto Benedicto group, were allowed to operate during the martial law period with the former airing Wacky Races and Francisco Tatad's reading of Proclamation No. 1081, where most of the media outfits were closed down after the declaration of martial law with Proclamation No. 1081 by Ferdinand Marcos.

On September 28, 1972, Marcos ordered the takeover of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and turned over its facilities to KBS, controlled by Benedicto. ABS-CBN's facilities were later transferred from KBS to the government-owned Maharlika Broadcasting System.[7] Crony-owned media companies broadcast or published news and entertainment meant to project a positive image for the dictatorship and conceal its abuses.[7]

In 1973, RPN brought the first slow-motion production machine to support the live coverage of the MICAA basketball games.[8] Color production with color-ready equipment would enable the government to invest in RPN for color coverages of national events, as then state network GTV (now

The first Radio Philippines Network (1975–1989)

Benedicto ownership (1975–1986)

In 1975, KBS formally relaunched as RPN, the acronym for its franchise name, Radio Philippines Network (the RPN name was first used in the provincial stations before the RPN brand would later be used for the Manila station as well; the KBS name was also used for other aspects such as KBS Sports until 1986).

The network covered special events such as the Olympic Games (it is also the first sporting coverage to broadcast in full color), Thrilla in Manila in 1975; and also became the official broadcaster for the Miss Universe pageant held in Manila in 1974, and the first Metropop Song Festival and its succeeding editions from 1978. The network also headlined some top-rated programs such as John en Marsha (which both the media and academe regarded as the paradigm of development communication), Flordeluna and Superstar (formerly known as The Nora Aunor-Eddie Peregrina Show). RPN became the birthplace and the first home of the now longest-running daytime variety show Eat Bulaga! (premiering in 1979); as well as the longest running game show on Philippine television Family Kuarta o Kahon hosted by Pepe Pimentel (originally aired on ABS-CBN then BBC-2); the latter program had enjoyed its successful 38-year run until it finally pulled the plug during the year 2000.

The network pioneered the use of computer graphics for its program plugs and station IDs. It also became the only network in the country known for its broadcasts of its easily recognizable digital clock embedded on the lower left part of the screen during the entire broadcast day except for newscasts, commercials, continuity plugs, station ID, and during sign-off. It eventually became the centerpiece of the network's broadcasts for 32 years (starting in 1975), and viewers have been setting their watches and clocks to RPN through the years, until it was abandoned at the end of 2007.

First downfall and sequestration (1986–1989)

After the People Power Revolution which ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president in February 1986, the stock and assets of RPN, IBC and BBC were sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). President Corazon Aquino awarded BBC's Channel 2 frequency and its affiliates, through an executive order, to ABS-CBN, and RPN's and IBC's assets were turned over to the Government Communications Group and placed under the management of a Board of Administrators tasked to operate and manage its business and affairs subject to the control and supervision of Presidential Commission on Good Government.[10]

The period saw a major decline for RPN as its resources became outdated and endured major mismanagement, which led to the network either shutting down or selling its stations. From being number 1 in the ratings, RPN's ratings slumped, due to the growth of GMA Radio-Television Arts and PTV, and more importantly as a result of ABS-CBN's meteoric rise to the number 1 spot in 1988.

During the post-EDSA Revolution era, RPN launched the first Filipino-created animated series, Ang Panday. By 1989, some of RPN's programming such as John en Marsha and Superstar were cancelled, and TAPE Inc.

New Vision 9 (1989–1994)

On October 8, 1989, RPN was renamed as New Vision 9 to recoup lost audience share in the ratings game of Philippine television networks. In the same year, New Vision 9 transmitter's effective radiated power was increased to 1 million watts, resulting in clearer and better signal reception in the Greater Luzon Area. The rebrand took place after RPN and Syndicated Media Access Corporation (SMAC) took over the network's management and marketing. The rebranding, although it proved futile in the turnaround of RPN's ratings, did make history for the network as it pioneered 24-hour television broadcasting in the Philippines. During the latter part of the New Vision 9 era, its ratings further suffered, ranking last in primetime (behind ABS-CBN, GMA, ABC, IBC, and PTV). Worse yet, RPN's nationwide reach suffered as well as its TV network. In 1989, it consisted of 24 TV stations nationwide (8 originating stations and 16 relay stations).

By then, RPN not only had to deal with the continued dominance of ABS-CBN and GMA, but also the return of another station shut down during martial law, ABC, and the onset of cable and UHF channels, which started to eat up the audience shares of the least-watched networks.

The second Radio Philippines Network (1994–2007)

Telenovela dominance, emphasis on world-class primetime programming (1994–2003)

In 1994, New Vision 9 was renamed back as Radio Philippines Network (RPN) and in the same year, RPN became the second VHF television network in the Philippines to broadcast in full surround stereo (after GMA Network introduced StereoVision in 1987). Following this, RPN managed to recover in primetime ratings, from being dead last in 1994 to fifth place in 1995, beating PTV (which by then suffered a major blow after losing the rights to one of its top-raters, the PBA games, to IBC). This, along with it being number 3 in daytime ratings, helped RPN to challenge ABC for third place in total day ratings.

In 1996, the network quickly regained its foothold when it began to broadcast a Tagalog dub of the 1994 Mexican telenovela Marimar, which turned out to be a phenomenal success, and discombobulated the competition for some time.

The network became the driving force in Tagalog-dubbed foreign programs and movies and made the popular and turned around its ratings in the evening prime time. Due to the success, the other networks followed and broadcast telenovelas not only from Mexico but also Spanish language telenovelas from the United States, Colombia (GMA Network's Betty La Fea), Venezuela (GMA Network's Samantha and All My Love) and Argentina (GMA Network's Monica Brava) and eventually even drama series from Brazil (ABS-CBN's Ana Manuela) and Asian drama series from Taiwan (notably Meteor Garden), South Korea (notably Bright Girl), Japan (notably Gokusen), Indonesia (notably Pinokio and the Blue Fairy) and Thailand (notably You're My Destiny).

Second downfall (2003–2007)

In the mid-2000s, a major network war in the ratings game ensued with the battle of the Taiwanese/Korean-language television series (which started through ABS-CBN's broadcast of Taiwanese series Meteor Garden) between the two leading networks, ABS-CBN and GMA, causing RPN to decline in the telenovelas battle.

On February 19, 2004, Republic Act No. 9250 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo renewed RPN's congressional franchise for another 25 years.[11] It was also in the same year when the network launched its primetime block, dubbed as The Prime Shift, blocktimed by Solar Entertainment Corporation. The said programming block lasted until 2006 – largely due to continued financial turmoil – shrunk from 24 TV Stations to just 8 TV Stations by 2007.

Solar Entertainment era (2007–2014)

Blocktime with Solar, as C/S; C/S9; Solar TV (2007–2011)

On March 11, 2007, after its initial tieup with The Prime Shift block, RPN announced their partnership with Solar Entertainment Corporation, an operator of a number of cable channels in the country. The company began co-producing new programming for the network, such as a local version of the Top Model franchise. The network underwent management changes on December 24, 2007, as Tonypet Albano (undersecretary and executive director of Malacañang's Office of Political Coalition Affairs and Deputy Spokesperson of TEAM Unity, now Vice-Governor of Isabela) was appointed chairman of the network (replacing Education Undersecretary Mona Valisno, incumbent Presidential Assistant for Education). Undersecretary Robert Rivera was appointed director of the board, while the president and chief executive officer became former senator Orlando "Orly" Mercado.[12]

Mercado's first major move was to expand its partnerships with Solar Entertainment. Programming from Solar's cable network C/S was added to RPN's lineup at the beginning of the new year, and PBA basketball would also return to the network beginning in the 2008–09 season, as part of Solar Sports' new three-year deal with the league after an expiration of ABC's contract due to the network's rebranding as TV5, because of the blocktime agreement with Malaysian-based Media Prima Berhad subsidiary MPB Primedia, Inc. and intense bidding war with ABS-CBN.[13]

Privatization; as ETC (2011–2013)

In 2010, the Philippine government began to actively consider privatizing RPN and IBC. Ricardo Abcede, member of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), supported the plans, noting that the government should not need to subsidize three state broadcasters when most countries only have one, and could gain a significant profit if they were sold to a major company willing to invest in the stations.[16]

In January 2011, reports confirmed that Solar Entertainment Corporation, through Solar TV Network, and Roberto Benedicto's daughter Kitchie Benedicto now owned a 34% minority share in RPN.[17] Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. also began to hold meetings with the network's employees union to discuss the financial state of RPN as part of the planned privatization.[18] On February 22, 2011, RPN's employees filed a strike notice, protesting a rumored shutdown of RPN on February 25, and accusing the government of attempting to privatize RPN without actively consulting its employees.[18]

As Solar News Channel (2013–2014)

In November 2013, it was reported that San Miguel Corporation President and COO Ramon S. Ang was interested in acquiring Solar Television Network.[27]

On November 30, 2013, ETC returned to SBN while Solar News Channel moved to RPN since the following day to widen its nationwide telecast.[28][29][30] (SBN broadcasts ETC from 2008 to 2011)

Nine Media era (2014–present)

As 9TV (2014–2015)

On January 3, 2014, RPN and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) signed a memorandum of agreement for the expanded coverage of both the TV and radio networks nationwide. Selected DWIZ programs will be simulcast on the Radyo Ronda Network.[31][32]

On August 20, 2014, Solar Entertainment Corporation chief Wilson Tieng announced that he ceded his entire share in Solar TV Network, Inc., including its 34% majority share in RPN, to Antonio Cabangon Chua, owner of business daily BusinessMirror and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation.[33][34] Tieng sold Solar TV because they were losing money on operations and the group will shifted to focus on remaining Solar Entertainment's free-to-air and cable channels, including RPN's former affiliate ETC, 2nd Avenue (aired on RJTV until 2018), and Jack City (aired on

As CNN Philippines (2015–2024)

On March 16, 2015, 9TV started broadcasting on the CNN Philippines brand.[39] CNN Philippines is the seventh rebrand of Radio Philippines Network since its inception as Kanlaon Broadcasting System. It dropped the transitional brand 9TV after seven months of operations under such brand. The new brand reflects the CNN format of news reporting with news from the Philippines.

In 2017, RPN and Nine Media Corporation acquired their UHF transmitter complex in Crestview Heights Subdivision, Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal, from Progressive Broadcasting Corporation to use RPN's Digital terrestrial television broadcast in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

On December 22, 2023, TV5 Network entered into an acquisition agreement with RPN's parent company, Nine Media Corporation, to broadcast the longest-running and Number 1 noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!, and selected games from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) every Saturday and Sunday on CNN Philippines starting January 6, 2024. This marks the return of the two programs previously aired on RPN to strengthen CNN Philippines' weekend line-up.[40]

Partnership with TV5 Network; as RPTV (2024–present)

On January 31, 2024, Bilyonaryo.com reported that TV5 Network partners with Nine Media and RPN to carry its selected sports, news and entertainment programming, including Eat Bulaga! and PBA games alongside classic RPN shows and programs originally produced by Nine Media under its channel's new branding RPTV, which launched the following day. Selected programs from One PH and 105.9 True FM are also airing on RPTV, marking its return to analog free-to-air television after 5 years since AksyonTV's closure. On February 6, 2024, the partnership was formalized after MediaQuest Holdings, TV5, and Nine Media signed a content distribution, sales and marketing services agreement for the new channel.[44][45][46]

RPTV programs

RPTV programming consists of simulcast and reruns of original TV5 and its sister channels programs including Eat Bulaga! and PBA games that was first aired simultaneously on CNN Philippines before its closure on January 31, 2024, as well as Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa True FM and Wanted sa Radyo.

Previous RPN-produced programs