Nation Broadcasting Corporation

Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is a Filipino radio and TV network established in 1963. As of December 2013, NBC is a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. under the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund. NBC operates television and radio stations with airtime being leased by affiliate TV5 and its corporate offices and studios are located at the TV5 Media Center, Reliance cor. Sheridan Sts., Mandaluyong.
History.
Radio.
NBC was established by Abelardo Yabut, Sr. (who worked for ABS-CBN and Filipinas Broadcasting Network) in June 1963, with initial offices located in Sampaguita Bldg., Cubao, Quezon City. In July 12 of the same year, NBC launched the network's pioneer AM station in Zamboanga City, which signalled the birth of NBC. Using a surplus transmitter that he bought from Deeco Electronics in Manila, the station ironically had the last three letters of the alphabet as the call letters; thus DXYZ was born ― but it was a foreboding of bigger things to come. Between 1964 to 1972, NBC put up the following stations in the following areas:
In September 1966, NBC moved from its first studios in Cubao to their then-new offices in Sikatuna Bldg., Ayala Avenue in Makati.
In January 1973, with already the string of 14 AM stations in provincial areas, Yabut put up DWFM 92.3 in Manila ― his first entry to the nation's capital, and the third FM station to establish in the same area. In 1974, DXRT-AM in Jolo, Sulu signed on. In 1975, under his tutelage, NBC brought the first FM station in Cebu City DYFM 101.9 (which also became the first stereo FM station in that city); and also in the same year, when the network pioneered FM broadcasting in Davao City with the inauguration of DXFM 101.9 and added NBC AM and FM Radio stations such as DWAY in Cabanatuan, DXCL in Cagayan de Oro DXEY-FM in Butuan ("now with Brigada Mass Media Corporation in 2018") in 1975, DZYI in Ilagan, Isabela, DXRL-FM in Cagayan de Oro, DXOO-FM in General Santos and DXRI-FM in Iligan in 1976, DYBC-FM in Bacolod in 1977, DZYB-FM in Baguio in 1978, DXTY-FM in Zamboanga in 1979, DXOK-FM in Cotabato in 1980, and DWRI ("now DWAR") in Laoag and DWJY-FM in San Pablo in 1982, DWYC-FM in Cabanatuan in 1984, DWMR-FM in Legazpi and DZRB-FM in Naga ("now with Southern Broadcasting Network in 2006 until 2009").
In 1987, NBC acquired DWXX 1026 AM from Hypersonic Broadcasting Center and it was reformatted as DZAM Radyo 1026: Ating Maasahan, which featured news, commentaries, and well-balanced mix of entertainment and music programming. In 1998, DZAM changed its call letters to DZAR, and reformatted into a news and talk based station.
NBC also pioneered in many ways as the first network to broadcast 24 hours a day outside of Metro Manila. It was the first network to bridge the archipelago with the utilization of satellite broadcasting, and continues to cover the live games of the Philippine Amateur Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association (the latter broadcasts this time via the Radyo5 News FM Network). In 1996, NBC has grown to become a nationwide network of 18 AM stations and 15 FM stations in 23 cities of the Philippines.
On April 8, 1998, NBC was granted a 25-year legislative franchise by Congress under Republic Act No. 8623, but it was lapsed into law without the Philippine President's signature. In the same year, NBC became the only FM radio network in the Philippines consisting of stations named after their respective female names.
DZAR was the first to launch in 1998 through its nationwide transmission. At that time, DZAR 1026 and other NBC AM stations were rebranded as Angel Radyo. In 2005, The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and the Swara Sug Media Corporation acquired all NBC AM stations and rebranded it as Sonshine Radio.
In 1973, DWFM was established as the first FM station during the martial law era. MRS 92.3 was an adult contemporary station, which played listeners' most requested songs. Its provincial stations carried the format as well. When PLDT media subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. bought NBC from the consortium led by the Yabut family and real estate magnate Manny Villar in 1998, its stations rebranded into their respective names under the @ Rhythms banner.
DWFM in Manila became Joey @ 92.3 and aired a smooth jazz and R&B format. Tony @ 101.1 in Zamboanga aired oldies, ranging from the 50s and 60s. Rocky @ 98.3 in Iligan aired modern rock. The remaining NBC FM stations in Baguio (Jesse @ 102.3), Cabanatuan (Donna @ 88.7), San Pablo, Laguna (Lovely @ 94.3), Naga (Nikki @ 95.9), Legazpi (Alex @ 97.9), Bacolod (Jamie @ 102.3), Cebu (Charlie @ 101.9), Davao (Danni @ 101.9), Butuan (Jake @ 96.7), Cagayan de Oro (Sandy @ 101.5), General Santos (Jenna @ 97.5) and Cotabato (Marco @ 97.3) aired a contemporary hit radio format. The Rhythms banner was dropped in 2004, leaving their names intact.
On 8 April 2007, XFM began after 923 Joey was signed off on 4 April, just before Holy week. XFM featured ambient, chill, down-tempo, electronica, house, lounge, trip-hop and indie music on radio until its ground-breaking format in February 2008.
In October 2009, the Manila, Cebu and Davao stations discontinued their Smooth AC format. The Manila station became U92, in partnership with All Youth Channels. It became the first CHR-formatted station focused on MTV Philippines broadcasting from a state-of-the-art studio at Silver City Mall, Frontera Verde Complex, Pasig. The Cebu and Davao stations became WAV FM, in partnership with AudioWAV (WAV Atmospheric), a Makati-based multinational instore radio company known for producing customized music and messaging for large chains across Southeast Asia and North America. The other provincial stations retained their formats. On September 30, 2010, U92 shut down following the dissolution of MTV Philippines in February.
On October 1, 2010, NBC, in partnership with its affiliate ABC Development Corporation (TV5), took over the management of 92.3 FM. As part of TV5's expansion, the station will become Radyo5 92.3 News FM, the first news/talk station on FM band. On November 8, it had its debut at 12:30 am and its first day of broadcasting began at 4 am. Beginning February 21, 2011, Radyo5 is scheduled to broadcast nationwide through its provincial relay stations on AM and FM. However, due to budget cuts from TV5, only 6 provincial stations remains operational and others like Radyo5 94.3 News FM San Pablo are closed down.
Television.
Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC-41) is a commercial UHF television station owned by First Pacific conglomerate and headed by Manuel Pangilinan, who is also the chairman of the telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).
The name was unfamiliar to many Filipinos. NBC TV 41 used to be MTV Philippines. MTV ("Music Television") is a cable TV network which was originally devoted to music videos, especially popular rock music. MTV later became an outlet for a variety of material aimed at adolescents and young adults.
After six years of partnership in the Philippines, MTV Channel 41 has gone off the air after a multi-year deal with All Youth Channel (AYC). This follows the dissolution of the partnership with NBC. MTV Philippines became a defunct channel in February 2010. It was inactive until October 2010 when it began test broadcasting as TV5 and when ABC Development Corporation took over the management of NBC stations. It then took over the blocktime of UHF Channel 41, which alternates programming ABC Development Corporation. It was simulcast with Radyo5 92.3 News FM for a few months when it debuted on November 8. TV5 was scheduled to set up the first free-to-air interactive-radio-on-TV channel with a format similar to DZMM TeleRadyo and RHTV in the first quarter of 2011. It was set to broadcast after its initial simulcasting of 92.3 News FM if Associated Broadcasting Company introduced this UHF channel. It plans to initialize test broadcasts on various cable and satellite operators nationwide.
On February 21, 2011, AksyonTV launched as TV5 introduced the new UHF channel. AksyonTV was launched at exactly 4 am, airing its first program, "Andar ng Mga Balita", hosted by Martin Andanar (now with Presidential Communications Operations Office), which was a simulcast of the morning news program on Radyo5 News FM of the same title.
After 8 years as news channel (sports content was later added), AksyonTV is announced to be rebranded as 5 Plus on January 13, 2019, with its programs consisting of mostly sports from ESPN5 and serving as a complementary channel for The 5 Network.
On March 8, 2020 (after 14 months as 5 Plus), the channel was relaunched when One Sports took over its channel space, making it available on free TV and other pay television operators. Meanwhile, its original satellite channel counterpart of One Sports was rebranded as One Sports+.