DWWX-TV
Encyclopedia
DWWX-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of Philippine
television network
ABS-CBN Corporation. Its studios and transmitter are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center at Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City
.
James Lindenberg, owner of BEC, was first to apply for a license to the Philippine Congress
to establish a television station in 1949. His request was granted on June 14, 1950. Because of the strict import controls and the lack of raw materials needed to open a TV station during those days, Lindenberg branched to radio broadcasting instead.
Judge Antonio Quirino, brother of then President
Elpidio Quirino
, also tried to apply for a license to Congress, but was denied. He later bought stocks from BEC and later gained the controlling stock and renamed the company from BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS).
DZAQ-TV began commercial television operations on October 23, 1953, the first fully licensed commercial television station in the Philippines. The first program that aired was a garden party at the Quirino residence in Sitio Alto, San Juan. After the premiere telecast, the station followed a four-hour a day schedule, from six to ten in the evening.
In 1955, Manila Chronicle owner Eugenio Lopez, Sr.
and Fernando Lopez
acquired a radio-TV franchise from Congress and immediately established Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1956. On February 24, 1957 Lopez called Judge Quirino to his house for breakfast and ABS was bought under a contract written on a table napkin. The corporate name was reverted to Bolinao Electronics Corporation immediately after the purchase of ABS.
With the establishment of DZXL-TV 9 of CBN in 1956, the Lopez brothers controlled both television channels in the archipelago. The monopoly in television was broken in 1961 when DZBB-TV 7
was established by the Republic Broadcasting System
(now GMA Network, Inc.
) (RBS), then owned by Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
.
In 1967, the company was renamed ABS–CBN Broadcasting Corporation. This company became the formal merger of the two stations DZAQ-TV 3 (ABS) and DZXL-TV 9 (CBN).
In 1966, ABS-CBN became the first TV station to broadcast selected shows in color and by December 18, 1968, ABS-CBN opened its present day Broadcast Center complex in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City; it was then the second most advanced broadcasting facility of its kind during its time in Asia after Japan.
In 1969, DZAQ-TV transferred to channel 2, while its sister station DZXL-TV transferred to channel 4. This was in response to frequency adjustments, so that the television station of the Kanlaon Broadcasting System (now Radio Philippines Network
) can occupy the Channel 9 frequency.
Ferdinand Marcos
declared martial law
, the station was forced to shut down. The company was seized from the Lopezes and its newly built Broadcast Center became the home of state-run TV stations Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC Channel 2, with call sign changed to DWWX-TV), Government Television
(GTV Channel 4
, with call sign changed to DWGT-TV and later renamed MBS-4) and Kanlaon Broadcasting System
(KBS Channel 9
). BBC 2 and KBS 9 later relocated to the Broadcast City
complex in 1977, which is also where the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
is today currently headquartered.
As the People Power Revolution broke out and the dictator's grip on power crumbled, the reformists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (who were also Corazon Aquino supporters) saw that TV would be a vital asset for victory. Thus, at 10 AM on February 24, they attacked and took the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center that was then the home of MBS-4. The station later became PTV-4 that afternoon, with the broadcasts spearheaded by former ABS-CBN talents and newsreaders.
Corazon Aquino
together with the staff managed to re-open its facilities after the revolution. Back then they had to share space in the building that was rightfully their own, which was then occupied for the most part by the government TV station Channel 4. Cash was low and resources stretched to the limit, with offices being made to double as dressing rooms and basics such as chairs, tables and phones in short supply.
By late 1986, the network was faltering, ranking last among the five stations and suffering heavy losses. Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr. by early 1987 brought in programming whiz and ABS-CBN veteran Freddie Garcia, then working for GMA Network
, and set him loose to work his magic touch.
At first, the channel 2 logo is introduced into ABS-CBN, after the dissolution of BBC in July. The features of the first channel 2 logo is a wing-shaped blue crest with a white curve at the top and a white line as a tail, the broadway 2 logo was used from 1986 to 1987. It has a slogan name Watch Us Do It Again! as the station ID aired since the network's revival.
Six months later on March 1, 1987, Channel 2 was relaunched with the live musical special, "The Star Network: Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin" (The Return of the Star) which noted for the famous numerical white
tri-ribbon
channel 2 logo laced with a white rhombidal star
(from 1988-1992 the ribbons were tri-colored in red, green and blue) as a centerpiece of the network's revival to return its glory days when the station ID was first aired during the relaunch. By 1988, ABS-CBN was topping the ratings, a position it had never relinquished for 16 years.
Later that year, it launched nationwide domestic satellite programming in 1989 and by 1994, expanded its operations worldwide. In 1999, Eugenio Lopez Jr. died of cancer in Quezon City. Channel 2 launched its 120-kilowatt Millennium Transmitter
, resulting in improved signal quality throughout Mega Manila.
In 2005, ABS-CBN re-upgraded its transmission capacity into a very high capacity of 346.2 kilowatts, resulting in an even clearer signal in Metro Manila.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
ABS-CBN Corporation. Its studios and transmitter are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center at Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
.
Beginnings (1953-1972)
DWWX-TV traces its history to the first Philippine television station DZAQ-TV, owned by Bolinao Electronics Corporation later renamed Alto Broadcasting System.James Lindenberg, owner of BEC, was first to apply for a license to the Philippine Congress
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
to establish a television station in 1949. His request was granted on June 14, 1950. Because of the strict import controls and the lack of raw materials needed to open a TV station during those days, Lindenberg branched to radio broadcasting instead.
Judge Antonio Quirino, brother of then President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925–1931...
, also tried to apply for a license to Congress, but was denied. He later bought stocks from BEC and later gained the controlling stock and renamed the company from BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS).
DZAQ-TV began commercial television operations on October 23, 1953, the first fully licensed commercial television station in the Philippines. The first program that aired was a garden party at the Quirino residence in Sitio Alto, San Juan. After the premiere telecast, the station followed a four-hour a day schedule, from six to ten in the evening.
In 1955, Manila Chronicle owner Eugenio Lopez, Sr.
Eugenio Lopez, Sr.
Don Eugenio Lopez, Sr. was founder of the Manila Chronicle and Chronicle Broadcasting Network.-The Story:"I remember during World War II, when we were hiding from the Japanese in the mountains of Dingle in Iloilo, he contracted a husband and wife teacher team to keep us abreast of our studies...
and Fernando Lopez
Fernando Lopez
Fernando López,Sr. was a Filipino statesman. A member of the influential López Family of Iloilo, Fernando López served as Vice President for three terms, under President Elpidio Quirino for the Liberals and Ferdinand Marcos for the Nacionalistas.-Early life and career:López was born on April 13,...
acquired a radio-TV franchise from Congress and immediately established Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1956. On February 24, 1957 Lopez called Judge Quirino to his house for breakfast and ABS was bought under a contract written on a table napkin. The corporate name was reverted to Bolinao Electronics Corporation immediately after the purchase of ABS.
With the establishment of DZXL-TV 9 of CBN in 1956, the Lopez brothers controlled both television channels in the archipelago. The monopoly in television was broken in 1961 when DZBB-TV 7
DZBB-TV
DZBB-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of Philippine television network GMA Network, Inc. Its studios are located at the GMA Network Center, at the corner of Timog Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City...
was established by the Republic Broadcasting System
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
(now GMA Network, Inc.
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
) (RBS), then owned by Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart
Robert La Rue Stewart , popularly known as "Uncle Bob", was an American entrepreneur, TV personality, radio and TV producer in the Philippines. He was the founding father of Republic Broadcasting System in the country....
.
In 1967, the company was renamed ABS–CBN Broadcasting Corporation. This company became the formal merger of the two stations DZAQ-TV 3 (ABS) and DZXL-TV 9 (CBN).
In 1966, ABS-CBN became the first TV station to broadcast selected shows in color and by December 18, 1968, ABS-CBN opened its present day Broadcast Center complex in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City; it was then the second most advanced broadcasting facility of its kind during its time in Asia after Japan.
In 1969, DZAQ-TV transferred to channel 2, while its sister station DZXL-TV transferred to channel 4. This was in response to frequency adjustments, so that the television station of the Kanlaon Broadcasting System (now Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
) can occupy the Channel 9 frequency.
BBC-2 (1972-1986)
When then PresidentPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, the station was forced to shut down. The company was seized from the Lopezes and its newly built Broadcast Center became the home of state-run TV stations Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation
Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation
Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation was a Philippine television network that started operations in November 1973 and ended on February 25, 1986.-History:...
(BBC Channel 2, with call sign changed to DWWX-TV), Government Television
National Broadcasting Network
People's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
(GTV Channel 4
DWGT-TV
DWGT-TV, channel 4, is the flagship station of Philippine television network People's Television Network. Its studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.-History:...
, with call sign changed to DWGT-TV and later renamed MBS-4) and Kanlaon Broadcasting System
Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
(KBS Channel 9
DZKB-TV
DZKB-TV, channel 9, is the flagship station of Philippine television network Radio Philippines Network. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City, with its transmitter situated along Panay Avenue, Quezon City....
). BBC 2 and KBS 9 later relocated to the Broadcast City
Broadcast City
Broadcast City is a television and radio broadcast center owned by the Philippine Government. It is located in Capitol Hills, Old Balara, Diliman, Quezon City. Broadcast City is the home of state-owned stations Radio Philippines Network, and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation...
complex in 1977, which is also where the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...
is today currently headquartered.
As the People Power Revolution broke out and the dictator's grip on power crumbled, the reformists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (who were also Corazon Aquino supporters) saw that TV would be a vital asset for victory. Thus, at 10 AM on February 24, they attacked and took the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center that was then the home of MBS-4. The station later became PTV-4 that afternoon, with the broadcasts spearheaded by former ABS-CBN talents and newsreaders.
Revival of ABS-CBN and Star Network (1986-present)
When Marcos was deposed, the network was sequestered and returned Channel 2 to the Lopezes but not Channel 4. On September 14, 1986, ABS-CBN TV went back on the air, broadcasting from what used to be their main garage at Broadcast Center in the pre-Martial Law days. PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
together with the staff managed to re-open its facilities after the revolution. Back then they had to share space in the building that was rightfully their own, which was then occupied for the most part by the government TV station Channel 4. Cash was low and resources stretched to the limit, with offices being made to double as dressing rooms and basics such as chairs, tables and phones in short supply.
By late 1986, the network was faltering, ranking last among the five stations and suffering heavy losses. Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr. by early 1987 brought in programming whiz and ABS-CBN veteran Freddie Garcia, then working for GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
, and set him loose to work his magic touch.
At first, the channel 2 logo is introduced into ABS-CBN, after the dissolution of BBC in July. The features of the first channel 2 logo is a wing-shaped blue crest with a white curve at the top and a white line as a tail, the broadway 2 logo was used from 1986 to 1987. It has a slogan name Watch Us Do It Again! as the station ID aired since the network's revival.
Six months later on March 1, 1987, Channel 2 was relaunched with the live musical special, "The Star Network: Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin" (The Return of the Star) which noted for the famous numerical white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
tri-ribbon
Ribbon
A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily for binding and tying. Cloth ribbons, most commonly silk, are often used in connection with clothing, but are also applied for innumerable useful, ornamental and symbolic purposes...
channel 2 logo laced with a white rhombidal star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
(from 1988-1992 the ribbons were tri-colored in red, green and blue) as a centerpiece of the network's revival to return its glory days when the station ID was first aired during the relaunch. By 1988, ABS-CBN was topping the ratings, a position it had never relinquished for 16 years.
Later that year, it launched nationwide domestic satellite programming in 1989 and by 1994, expanded its operations worldwide. In 1999, Eugenio Lopez Jr. died of cancer in Quezon City. Channel 2 launched its 120-kilowatt Millennium Transmitter
Millennium Transmitter (ABS-CBN Tower)
Millennium Transmitter , 346.2 kilowatt ERP transmitter of ABS-CBN Corporation located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Mother Ignacia Street corner Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Quezon City. It serves as a transmitter facility for both ABS-CBN and Studio 23.-History:...
, resulting in improved signal quality throughout Mega Manila.
In 2005, ABS-CBN re-upgraded its transmission capacity into a very high capacity of 346.2 kilowatts, resulting in an even clearer signal in Metro Manila.
See also
- List of ABS-CBN channels and stations
- ABS-CBNABS-CBNABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
- Studio 23DWAC-TVDWAC-TV, channel 23, is the flagship station of Philippine television network Studio 23, a fully owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. Its studios and transmitter are located at ABS-CBN Broadcast Center Mother Ignacia cor. Sgt...
- Tambayan 101.9
- ABS-CBN DZMM RadyoPatrol 630DZMMABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...