Mareco Broadcasting Network

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Mareco Broadcasting Network, Inc. (MBNI)
Company typePrivate
IndustryRadio broadcasting
Founded1963
HeadquartersQuezon City, Philippines
Key people
Louie R. Villar, Jr. (President)
Saripaz Villar-Tan (EVP)
Elaine Rojas Villar-Rivilla (VP-Finance)
Engr. Eleuterio "Terry" G. Bondoc (VP-Engineering)
ParentMareco, Inc. (L.R. Villar Group of Companies)

Mareco Broadcasting Network, Inc. is a radio network in the Philippines. Mareco stands for Mabuhay Records Corporation as its parent company also owns Villar Records and Mabuhay Records. Its headquarters is located at #6 Tirad Pass Street, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City. It also provides management and marketing consultancy for radio companies in the country.[1][2][3][4]

History[edit]

Manuel P. Villar Sr., owner of Mareco Broadcasting Network, Inc.,[5][6] was also the executive of radio network's mother company, Mabuhay Records Corporation[7] (Mareco, Inc.), and Filipinas Record Corp.[8] Mareco owned one of the leading local record labels which, by late 1960s, were among those dominating almost all foreign labels that owned almost the entire market.[7]

The Villar clan, which pioneered the country's recording business in 1950 through Mareco, opened two AM radio stations:[9] DZBM 740[10] in 1963, and DZLM 1430. The group acquired an FM radio station in 1971. Upon the declaration of nationwide martial law in 1972, a decree was issued ordering a broadcast company to operate an AM and an FM station in each area. As a result, DZBM was kept,[11][12] while DZLM was transferred to FM, later called DWLM 105.1.[10] The family eventually focused on broadcast operations when they stopped recording business in the late 1970s.[13]

These radio stations mostly played foreign records yet a local recording once daily,[14] all requested by the listeners in early years.[9] DZBM had the magazine-type format until the management later adopted the one with different announcing style, the first AM station to reformat into such; thus becoming the top-rated pop station[5] for at least five to six years. Among those DJs at that time were the late Angelo Castro and Howard Medina, now with DZBB-AM.[15] Villar Records, then country's leading biggest record company[5] and the licensee of foreign labels including RCA, Columbia and Motown, once promoted its star balladeer to play alongside foreign pop stars on that station.[14] DZBM's frequency was moved to 774 kHz by 1978.[11]

In early 1990s, DWBM-FM and DWOO-AM (successors of DWLM-FM and DZBM-AM, respectively),[16] along with Citylite 88.3 Metro Manila and its partner, DYBW-FM 89.1 Cebu City, became CNN radio affiliates, relaying international news reported by the outlet.[17]

In May 1993, MBNI, owned by Palma and Villar group of companies at that time, relaunched DWOO-AM as news radio station.[16][18]

In 1994, Luis Villar sold the shares to his children; the FM station went to his son, Louie, who introduced Crossover stations since then.[13] The Villars later explained that the name describes its format: a combination of jazz, Latin, R&B and pop music. Four additional stations were later established nationwide.[19]

On the other hand, the AM station, as DWAT, went to the Palmas and later brought by businessman Lucio Tan, while its franchise was still being held by the MBNI. The transfer to the latter was the subject of a dispute when the Villar family filed a court case against Tan,[20] which caused the delay of station's scheduled official broadcast as DWWW 774 in October 1996, under new management.[20][21] The station is currently operated by Interactive Broadcast Media.[22]

On December 30, 2019, Horizon of the Sun Communications (producer of Chinese Filipino oriented shows Chinatown TV and Chinese News TV on IBC 13) took over the station's operations. The Q Radio branding was launched on January 13, 2020. Meanwhile, its provincial stations started carrying the said brand on November 16, 2020.

On July 1, 2023, Q Radio permanently went off-air due to financial problems. A few days prior, Brigada Mass Media Corporation signed an agreement with Mareco, in which it will lease the stations, except for the Bacolod station, whose operations were taken over by RYU Group of Companies.[23][24][25]

MBNI stations[edit]

Radio stations[edit]

Branding Callsign Frequency Power (kW) Coverage Operator
Brigada News FM Manila DWBM-FM 105.1 MHz 25 kW Metro Manila Brigada Mass Media Corporation
DZBM-FM 10 kW Baguio
Brigada News FM Cebu DYAC-FM 90.7 MHz 20 kW Cebu
Brigada News FM Davao DXAC-FM 93.1 MHz 10 kW Davao
Yuhum Radio DYBM-FM 99.1 MHz 5 kW Bacolod RYU Group of Companies

Former stations[edit]

Callsign Frequency Location Notes
DWAT 774 kHz Metro Manila Acquired by Interactive Broadcast Media in 1996. Currently broadcasting as DWWW.

Defunct TV stations[edit]

Callsign Ch. # Location Fate
DWBM-TV TV-43 Metro Manila Frequency acquired by AMCARA Broadcasting Network and was later used by ABS-CBN for their DTT broadcast until June 30, 2020. Currently, this frequency is used by Sonshine Media Network International for their DTT broadcast assigned by the National Telecommunications Commission since January 5, 2022.
DYBM-TV TV-45 Cebu

Crossover Radio Online[edit]

Crossover Radio Online
Broadcast areaWorldwide via internet
Programming
FormatSmooth AC
Affiliations
History
First air date
June 1994
Former frequencies
Technical information
ClassA, B and C
Links
WebcastListen Live (Playlist)
Websitewww.crossoverradioonline.com

Crossover (presently known as Crossover Radio Online) is a smooth jazz/adult contemporary radio brand of Mareco Broadcasting Network. It began its broadcast on terrestrial in 1994, and officially migrated to digital-only via internet radio on December 30, 2019.

Much like its previous broadcast on FM, it still carries the same programming and international news bulletins from BBC World Service and Voice of America.

Profile[edit]

In the early 1990s, Mareco underwent several changes in management and programming, which also involves relaunching in 1991 of 105.1 Manila as DWBM-FM, until the launch of Crossover network through that station in (June) 1994.[13][3]

The network was later expanded with the establishment of four additional stations:[19] in Bacolod (99.1 FM, in February 1997), Cebu City (93.1 FM, in September of the same year; later moved to 90.7 FM), Davao City (93.1 FM, in June 1999), and Baguio (105.1 FM, in 2000) which is a relay.[3]

On December 30, 2019, Crossover began its transition into a digital-only internet station, as Mareco began to lease airtime of its FM stations to third-party companies.

Its format being described by the station's name, a combination of variety of music including jazz and R&B music,[3][19][26] as well as its affiliation with BBC World Service,[26] continue to this day. The station, pre-transition, was the country's first CNN radio affiliate.[3][26]

Currently, Crossover Radio Online is available via its live streaming application on iOS and Android.[27][28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Republic Act No. 8108
  2. ^ House Bill No. 8119
  3. ^ a b c d e KBP Members
  4. ^ Duterte OKs franchise renewals of three broadcasting companies
  5. ^ a b c Samonte, Danee (September 13, 2018). "Rene Garcia: The final Hotdog". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Record of the Batasan. Philippines: Batasang Pambansa. 1985. p. 957. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b Caliwara, Karen (November 12, 2021). "Vic del Rosario: The boss behind VIVA, trailblazing powerhouse entertainment company". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Citations:
  9. ^ a b "From the Music Capitals of the World: Manila". Billboard. August 10, 1968. p. 50. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ a b National Economic and Development Authority; National Census and Statistics Authority (1978). Philippine Yearbook 1978. Manila: Government of the Philippines. p. 766. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ a b National Economic and Development Authority; National Census and Statistics Authority (1979). Philippine Yearbook 1979. Manila: Government of the Philippines. pp. 811, 818. Retrieved July 4, 2023 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ The Philippines, a Country Profile. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State. August 1979. p. 110. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ a b c Sicam, Edmund (September 30, 2000). "Meet Louie Villar, the man behind radio's Crossover stations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. E2. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ a b "How Villar Records changed Philippines pop music forever". The Philippine Star. February 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Samonte, Danee (January 17, 2015). "Them were the days". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Mareco launches station DWOO". Manila Standard. May 24, 1993. p. 6. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "CNN on Citylite and Mareco". Manila Standard. January 9, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Mareco launches DWOO 774 AM". Manila Standard. May 20, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved July 2, 2023 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ a b c Esguerra, Tinnie (December 21, 2000). "Defining the Crossover Sound". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Singh, Tara (October 30, 1996). "Vantage Point: Lucio Tan and the so-called 'Judas-ciary'". Manila Standard. p. 11. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ "DWWW 774". Media Ownership Monitor. Reporters Without Borders. 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  22. ^ "Interactive Broadcast Media Inc". Media Ownership Monitor. Reporters Without Borders. 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  23. ^ "Louella Hazeline Chan in Q Radio Qlassmates". Telegram. June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Q Radio 105.1 (June 19, 2023). "To all of our amazing Qties, After a fulfilling 3-year run, filled with several viral online campaigns and exciting on-air gimmicks, it is with a heavy heart that we announce that Q Radio will be permanently signing off nationwide effective July 1, 2023". Facebook. Retrieved June 21, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Brigada News FM (June 27, 2023). "Konting tulog na lang mga Ka-Brigada! Mas pinalakas, mas pinalawak, at mas pinaganda! Ang No. 1 sa mga probinsiya sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao - mapakikinggan na sa Metro at Mega Manila!". Facebook. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  26. ^ a b c "Less is more". The Philippine Star. February 21, 2010.
  27. ^ "CROSSOVER 105.1 Manila". Apple App Store. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  28. ^ "CROSSOVER 105.1 Manila". Google Play. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
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