DWRK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the defunct radio station with the same callsign that operated under the brand 96.3 WRocK between 1988 and 2008, see WRocK Online. For the Cebu station that currently uses the brand name 96.3 WRocK, see DYRK.
DWRK (Easy Rock)
Easy Rock Logo 2009.png
CityPasay
Broadcast areaMega Manila and surrounding areas
Frequency96.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding96.3 Easy Rock
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatSoft Adult Contemporary
Subchannels
NetworkEasy Rock Network
Ownership
OwnerManila Broadcasting Company[1][2]
DZRH, 90.7 Love Radio, 101.1 Yes The Best
History
First air date
1972
Former call signs
DWBC-FM (1972-1980)
Former names
  • Real Radio (February 4, 1980–October 14, 1988)
  • WRocK (October 15, 1988–May 18, 2009)
Call sign meaning
WRocK (former branding)
Technical information
Licensing authority
NTC
Power25,000 watts
ERP75,000 watts
Links
WebcastListen Live
HD2: Listen Live
WebsiteEasy Rock
HD2: Radyo Natin

DWRK (96.3 FM), broadcasting as 96.3 Easy Rock, is a radio station owned and operated by Manila Broadcasting Company.[1][2] It serves as the flagship station of Easy Rock Network. The station's studio is located at the MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, and its transmitter facilities are located at the BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, sharing the same site with sister stations 90.7 Love Radio and 101.1 Yes The Best.

Easy Rock is the most listened to easy-listening radio station preferred by listeners, especially in the office, and also by motorists in Metro Manila, as conducted by Nielsen Radio Research Survey.

History[]

1980–1988: Real Radio[]

ACWS-United Broadcasting Network established DWBC-FM in 1972, as a simulcast of 940 kHz. On February 4, 1980, It was reformatted as RK96 Real Radio with callsign to DWRK.

1988–2009: WRocK[]

The station underwent rebranding and reformat as 96.3 WRocK with a Lite Rock format on October 15, 1988. The new format plays also love songs along with its lite rock songs. During the 1990s, it had a copyright infringement with 103.5 K-Lite with its use of the stinger "it's the true light rock" and "light rock with a kick". Back then, its studios were located at the FEMS Tower 1 in Osmeña Highway, Malate, Manila. They also owned Ultravision 25 (now Net 25, owned by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation).

During the 2000s until its acquisition by MBC, it hosted events and played music that inspired a generation up to October 26, 2008, when its DJ's aired the final edition of "Lite Rock Favorites of the Week" with DJs Cherry Bayle (now with Radyo5 92.3 News FM) and Dylan Thomas.[3][4]

Because of ACWS-UBN's financial difficulties, not to mention the station's intense competition with other stations (Magic 89.9, WRR 101.9 For Life!), it was announced on October 6, 2008 that the Elizalde Group of Companies' Manila Broadcasting Company has purchased the station from the Hodreal-owned ACWS-UBN for PhP229.6 million. Except for the acquisition price, further terms were not disclosed.[5]

2009–present: Easy Rock[]

On October 26, 2008, WRocK signed off permanently on its frequency, but revived as an online station. After that, MBC scrapped all programs associated with WRocK, and even ACWS-UBN. The new "WRocK" played automated music and some liners from its new DJs. MBC tried its best to maintain DWRK's upscale and niche-market on-air identity and programming format as 96.3 WRocK from October 2008 to May 17, 2009, unlike many other stations which reformatted immediately after being sold. In December 2008, its studios moved from FEMS Tower 1 in Osmeña Highway, Manila to the Star City Complex in Sotto St. cor. Roxas Boulevard, Pasay next to its new sister stations.

On May 18, 2009, DWRK rebranded as 96.3 Easy Rock, ending almost 21 years of broadcasting under the WRocK brand to reflect the change. This was MBC's first venture into class A,B & C market.[6] [7]

On October 2, 2019, the main studios of 96.3 Easy Rock at the MBC Building, CCP Complex in Pasay, along with its sister MBC Manila radio stations, were affected by a major fire that originated in the nearby Star City theme park. In interim, Easy Rock currently broadcasts from its backup studio in BSA Twin Towers, where its transmitter is located.[8]

On November 15, 2021, after a 2 year hiatus, Easy Rock Manila studios along with sister stations Love Radio Manila and Yes! The Best Manila returned to the newly renovated MBC Building inside the Star City complex (which is still under rehabilitation and reconstruction). at the same day, MBC relaunched its new corporate slogan, Sama-Sama Tayo, Pilipino! (lit. We are all Filipinos!) along with the new logos of all MBC radio stations. However, MBC's AM station DZRH retained its interim studios at the Design Center of the Philippines which is near the MBC Building, they will soon follow suit with the return of the MBC Building (however it was offically moved in December 17, 2021).[9]

Theme music[]

From 1988 until May 17, 2009, the jingles were resings from 93.7 K-Lite's jingle package from TM Studios. It also had versions recorded by various local artists, including Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, The CompanY, Kuh Ledesma, Lea Salonga etc. as part of its "Why does this singer have lite rock on his/her radio?" campaign. [10] Since 2010, it has been exclusively heard on the surviving WRocK station, DYRK in Cebu.

On May 18, 2009, along with the rebrand, it used the Delilah jingle package from ReelWorld, since it ironically has the same tune as that of K-Lite's. [11] Acapella versions of their jingles were used during their Monday program Remember Someone Today from October 2012 to February 2020.

On December 3, 2021, a few weeks after relaunching its logo, its jingle package was also revamped after 12 years, this time using the Easy Radio jingle package from ReelWorld while keeping the iconic melody of the station.

HD Radio operations[]

At present, 96.3 Easy Rock is also heard via digital HD Radio via the HD1 channel. The HD2 channel carries the simulcast of Radyo Natin Nationwide, a hometown-formatted national radio station owned by MBC affiliate Radyo Natin Network. The HD3 channel carries a simulcast of sister AM station DZRH.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "2011 Philippine Yearbook (Page 18)" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b "NTC FM Stations via FOI website" (PDF). foi.gov.ph. 2019-08-17.
  3. ^ Goodbye, 96.3 WRocK. Thanks for the Memories
  4. ^ FM Radio’s “96.3 WRock the Heart of Lite Rock”
  5. ^ Elizaldes’ Manila Broadcasting acquires 96.3 Wrock Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ The Birth of the Easy Rock network
  7. ^ Is she the one?
  8. ^ Fire hits Star City compound
  9. ^ "MBC jumsptarts re-branding campaign with new station logos". dzrh.com.ph. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  10. ^ https://www.pinoyexchange.com/discussion/333994/radio-memories/p40
  11. ^ 96.3 Easy Rock Gets Jingles from ReelWorld

External links[]

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