FBS Radio Network

FBS Radio Network is a Philippine broadcasting company whose roots go back to the Freedom Broadcasting System, established by Leonida “Nida” Laki-Vera and her husband Luis Vera during the 1970s. The company began its broadcast operations with the AM station DWBL and subsequently established the FM station DWLL. DWLL later became associated with the Mellow Touch identity, which developed into the network’s principal FM brand and was extended to selected provincial markets. During its early years, the network employed a number of recognizable Philippine radio personalities and broadcasters, including Butch Gonzales, Rudolph Rivera, and newscaster Ernie Fresnido. These personnel worked across DWBL and the Mellow Touch service during the network’s formative period, reflecting FBS’s role in the development of commercial radio programming in the country. By the 1990s, ownership and management of the broadcasting business had passed to the Vera family’s children, Luis Jr., commonly known as Luigi, and Lena. As part of this transition and the consolidation of the family’s broadcasting operations, the company moved away from the Freedom Broadcasting System legal name and adopted the FBS Radio Network identity. Under the younger generation’s stewardship, the company expanded Mellow Touch into important provincial cities, giving the network a broader geographic presence beyond its original operations. FBS has also participated in station transactions involving other Philippine broadcasters. In 2004, it sold DWKT in Dagupan and DYLL in Cebu to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System. As part of the same transaction, FBS acquired the AM station DWSS from UBSI. The transaction used the franchise of Supreme Broadcasting System in connection with ownership restrictions applicable to Philippine broadcasting. The company’s franchise position was reinforced in 2020. On December 21 of that year, Republic Act No. 11507 granted FBS a 25-year legislative franchise extension. The measure became law after 30 days without presidential action. The franchise authorizes FBS, for commercial purposes, to construct, install, operate, and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations, including digital television systems, together with associated relay and transmission facilities throughout the Philippines. Publicly available reference material identifies FBS primarily as a radio network; detailed information about its current station lineup, programming, ownership structure, and television operations is limited.

FBS Radio Network began in the Philippines during the 1970s under the name Freedom Broadcasting System. The business was founded by Leonida “Nida” Laki-Vera and Luis Vera, who entered broadcasting with the AM station DWBL. Approximately a year later, they established the FM station DWLL. That station eventually became known as Mellow Touch, an identity that would later serve as the network’s most prominent FM association. The network’s early operations included both music and news-oriented broadcasting. Radio personalities such as Butch Gonzales and Rudolph Rivera, together with newscaster Ernie Fresnido, were associated with DWBL and Mellow Touch during the late 1970s. Their involvement illustrates the company’s place within the professional radio sector as it developed its programming and audience base. By the 1990s, the Vera family transferred ownership of the broadcasting business to their children, Luis Jr. “Luigi” Vera and Lena Vera. During this generational transition, the company dropped the Freedom Broadcasting System name and adopted FBS Radio Network. The reorganized network expanded Mellow Touch into key provincial cities, transforming the FM service from a principally local operation into a wider multi-market network. FBS later adjusted its station portfolio through a transaction with Ultrasonic Broadcasting System. In 2004, FBS transferred DWKT in Dagupan and DYLL in Cebu to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System. In exchange, it obtained the AM station DWSS. The transaction was structured using the franchise of Supreme Broadcasting System in order to address Philippine broadcasting ownership restrictions. The company’s legal operating authority was extended in 2020. On December 21, Republic Act No. 11507 granted FBS a 25-year legislative franchise. The measure authorized the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of commercial radio and television stations, including digital television systems and relay facilities throughout the Philippines. It became law following 30 days of inaction by then-President Rodrigo Duterte. FBS Radio Network is therefore best understood as a family-founded Philippine broadcast company that evolved from a 1970s AM/FM operation into a network built around the Mellow Touch brand and a changing portfolio of provincial and metropolitan stations. Available reference material does not provide a complete current station list, detailed corporate ownership information, current executive roster, or a clear account of active television services.

1. 2020Legislative franchise extension becomes law

   Republic Act No. 11507 grants FBS a 25-year franchise extension for commercial radio, television, digital television, and related relay facilities.

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2. 2004Station portfolio exchange with Ultrasonic Broadcasting System

   FBS sells DWKT in Dagupan and DYLL in Cebu to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System and receives DWSS in exchange.

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3. 1990Ownership passes to the next Vera generation

   Luis Jr. “Luigi” Vera and Lena Vera take over ownership of the family broadcasting business, which adopts the FBS Radio Network name.

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4. 1970Freedom Broadcasting System begins operations

   Leonida “Nida” Laki-Vera and Luis Vera establish the broadcasting business that later becomes FBS Radio Network.

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5. DWBL is launched

   The company begins its station operations with the AM station DWBL.

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6. DWLL and the Mellow Touch identity are established

   FBS establishes the FM station DWLL, which later becomes known as Mellow Touch.

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A Philippine commercial broadcaster with roots in AM radio and a principal FM network identity associated with Mellow Touch, combining music-oriented programming with broader radio broadcasting operations.

• Mellow TouchFM radio network

  Mellow Touch is the FM radio identity developed from FBS’s DWLL station. The service became the company’s principal network brand and was expanded into key provincial cities under the later Vera family ownership. Available reference material associates the brand with music-oriented FM broadcasting, although it does not provide a complete account of its current programming or station footprint.

• DWBLAM radio station

  DWBL was the first station launched by the Freedom Broadcasting System in the 1970s. It formed part of FBS’s original AM broadcasting operation and was associated with radio personalities and news broadcasting during the network’s early years.

• DWSSAM radio station2004

  DWSS became part of the FBS station portfolio through a 2004 exchange with Ultrasonic Broadcasting System. FBS acquired the station from UBSI, using the franchise of Supreme Broadcasting System in connection with applicable ownership restrictions.

• 2020Twenty-five-year broadcasting franchise extensionStrategy

  FBS required legislative authority to continue and potentially broaden its commercial broadcasting activities in the Philippines.

  What changed. Republic Act No. 11507 extended FBS’s franchise for 25 years and covered radio, television, digital television, and associated relay facilities throughout the Philippines.

  Aftermath. The company received continued legal authorization for broadcasting operations. The law became effective after 30 days of presidential inaction.

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• 2004Rebalance of the station portfolioM&A

  FBS and Ultrasonic Broadcasting System adjusted their station holdings as part of a broadcasting transaction involving stations in Dagupan, Cebu, and the AM service DWSS.

  What changed. FBS transferred DWKT and DYLL to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System and acquired DWSS from UBSI. The arrangement used the Supreme Broadcasting System franchise to comply with ownership restrictions.

  Aftermath. The transaction changed FBS’s provincial station portfolio, although the available reference does not document subsequent audience, financial, or competitive effects.

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• 2020FBS receives 25-year legislative franchise extension

  Republic Act No. 11507 granted FBS a 25-year franchise extension covering commercial radio and television broadcasting, including digital television and related relay facilities. The measure became law after 30 days of presidential inaction.

  Regulation
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• 2004FBS completes station transaction with Ultrasonic Broadcasting System

  FBS sold its Dagupan and Cebu stations, DWKT and DYLL, to Ultrasonic Broadcasting System and acquired the AM station DWSS from UBSI in return.

  M&A
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1. FBS Radio Network