DZBB-AM

DZBB (pronounced DZ-double-B; 594 AM) Super Radyo is a radio station owned and operated by GMA Network. It serves as the flagship station of the Super Radyo network and one of the assets of GMA News and Public Affairs. The station's studio is located at the GMA Network Center Annex Building, EDSA corner GMA Network Drive, Diliman, Quezon City, while its transmitter is located along Camia St., Brgy. Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan.
History.
1950–1989: Dobol B.
DZBB marked its inaugural broadcast, as the station's static marred signal was wafted on the air for the first time on March 1, 1950 by Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart, in a small office space in Calvo Building, Escolta, Manila with mostly second-hand equipment and an old, surplus radio transmitter. The station was then broadcasting on the frequency of 580 kHz, with the power of 10,000 watts.
Despite the scarcity of new broadcasting facilities, the station has scored many milestones with its news, Congressional coverage, breaking news, exclusives, and blow-by-blow accounts of major national events. It was also a pioneer with trendsetting shows such as "Camay Theater of the Air", "Lovingly Yours, Helen", "Kahapon Lamang", "Tawag ng Tanghalan", "Newscoop", and "Kwentong Kutsero". Some of these shows eventually became television shows. DZBB was also the first to air live coverage of not only news and public affairs, but also entertainment and educational programmes.
In 1957, DZBB moved to its new and current home at EDSA, Quezon City.
Due to the success of DZBB, Stewart ventured into television on October 29, 1961 as DZBB-TV Channel 7 with the branding of RBS-7 (now known as GMA-7 Manila). The station was seized and closed in September 1972 due to Martial Law. Two years later, due to changes in media ownership laws, Channel 7, DZBB and their other sister provincial radio and television stations were eventually sold to the triumvirate of Gilberto Duavit, Sr., Menardo Jimenez and Felipe Gozon. At the same time, DZBB returned to the airwaves under the branding "Dobol B", which would later be rebranded to simply DZBB 594 kHz; and became a music-personality radio station. The station also covered important news coverages during the 70s and the 80s. In November 1978, DZBB moved to the present frequency of 594 kHz, in response to the adoption of the 9 kHz spacing on AM radio stations in the Philippines under the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975.
1989–1999: Bisig Bayan.
The station was rebranded as "Bisig Bayan" from July 17, 1989 to January 3, 1999; and completely changed its format to news and public service. Their new identity made the station more popular to radio listeners in Metro Manila. Rafael "Paeng" Yabut, Bobby Guanzon, Lito Villarosa, Rene Jose, Rey Pacheco, Raul Virtudazo, Jimmy Gil, Arman Roque, Rose "Manang Rose" Clores, German Moreno, Inday Badiday, Helen Vela, Augusto Victa, Manolo Favis, and Pol Caguiat were the personalities of the Bisig Bayan years.
Also in the early 1990s, DZBB evolved into a 24-hour round-the-clock broadcasting service, in order to keep up with the pace of delivering news to its listeners, and came out with "Kape at Balita", a morning news/commentary/talk show hosted by Bobby Guanzon and then GMA News reporter Jessica Soho in 1992, which expanded to television the same year.
1999–present: Super Radyo.
On January 4, 1999, the station was once again rebranded as "Super Radyo DZBB 594". Much of their programming focuses on news and current events, and it still simulcasts GMA programs such as "24 Oras" and "Saksi".
In 2010, for the first time in Philippine radio history, DZBB and its rival station DZMM of ABS-CBN made history as they joined forces in the name of public service. Two children named James and Jesus asked for help to find their missing parents named Pascual and Norma Bantillan from Bohol on a rival program on DZMM Aksyon Ngayon Global Patrol and were eventually reunited through DZBB's program "Aksyon Oro Mismo".
In 2014, DZBB kept its winning streak in Mega Manila as it continued to lead rival stations in ratings, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. DZBB grabbed the lead in Mega Manila in June 2014 and has since sustained leadership in the area, which it repeated in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
In 2017, DZBB officially launched its new logo, its first ever jingle for the station and its newly renovated radio booth, as well as the relaunch of "Dobol B sa News TV", after 5 years of hiatus on television.
In 2020, DZBB temporarily suspends its regular programming, especially during overnight hours, in line with the enhanced community quarantine imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which replaced them with news updates and hookup to sister station Barangay LS 97.1.
On February 8, 2021, the studios of DZBB, as well as the programs simulcast over Dobol B TV (Formerly known as Dobol B sa News TV), have permanently moved to its new radio booth at the GMA Network Annex Building.
Programming.
DZBB's programs are mostly news, current issues, and news analysis produced by the GMA News and Public Affairs department. Their morning radio shows are anchored mostly by news anchors and personalities from television.
The station also has two kinds of newscasts: a main news bulletin entitled "Super Balita" with editions of the news bulletin aired at 7:00 am PST, 12:00 nn PST 4:00 pm PST and 10:00 pm PST every Monday to Friday and "Bigtime Balita" the flagship evening newscast of the station anchored by Rene Sta. Cruz aired before the simulcast of 24 Oras from GMA Network, as well as a simulcast of news and public affairs programs of GMA Network.
On some occasions, DZBB would also air live and exclusive blow-by-blow boxing coverage, especially during Manny Pacquiao's fights (alongside Super Radyo stations nationwide). As such, DZBB became the first radio station to do so (until 2019).
As of 2020, DZBB also live streams select programs on its official Facebook page.