Branding WRocK Online | Frequency 96.3 MHz (1972 - 2008) | |
City Metro Manila (1972-2010) Broadcast area Worldwide through Hayag Slogan "Less Talk, More Lite Rock"
"The Heart of Lite Rock" First air date 1972 (as DWBC)
1980 (as RK96 Real Radio)
October 15, 1988 (as 96.3 WRocK)
October 2008 (as WRocK Online until 2010) | ||
WRocK Online was a Metro Manila FM radio station and a defunct Internet radio station owned by ACWS-United Broadcasting Network (also operating under the trade name WRocK Entertainment) in the Philippines. As an FM radio station, it operated under the call sign and frequency DWRK at 96.3 MHz, a frequency now used by 96.3 Easy Rock. The main format of the station was soft rock music.
Contents
DWBC/RK 96 Real Radio
ACWS (Associated Communications through Wireless Services)–United Broadcasting Network (UBN) established DWBC-FM in 1972, as a simulcast of 940 kHz. In 1980, RK 96 was launched (it also changed its callsign to DWRK). Headed by Mike Pedero (who established NU 107 in 1987), it played Adult Contemporary music, competing with 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9, 101.1 Kiss FM (now known as 101.1 Yes! FM of Manila Broadcasting Company), and other AC stations before reformatting in 1988.
96.3 WRocK
The station underwent rebranding and reformat as 96.3 WRocK with a Lite Rock format in 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". 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 and Dylan Thomas.
On October 6, 2008, it has been announced that the Elizalde Group of Companies' Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) has purchased WRocK from the Hodreal family, owners of ACWS-UBN, for PhP229.6 million. Except for the acquisition price, further terms were not disclosed. However, radio guidelines dictate that an entity could declare no more than one station under its direct ownership; hence as MBC is the declared owner of 90.7 Love Radio and its sister AM station DZRH, it could not be the declared owner of 96.3 FM.
While the Manila radio station (DWRK – rebranded to 96.3 Easy Rock) is under the control of MBC's subsidiary Cebu Broadcasting Company, ACWS-UBN retains control of the WRocK provincial stations.
Rebirth & Later years
In October 2008, ACWS-UBN decided to re-establish the WRocK format online through the hayag.com online stream. Listeners were able to hear WRocK through webstreaming powered by Hayag, or through the WRocK Online website (requires Microsoft Silverlight).
Since May 2010, due to lack of resources and financial challenges, it suspended its operations indefinitely (as well as the Bacolod station). The Cebu & Davao stations still exist, with the latter being blocktimed by UMBN as Hit Radio then rebranded to Retro 95.5 in 2016.
List of WRocK stations (AM, internet radio and provincial stations)
- Defunct since May 2007.
- Defunct since May 2010.
- Under UMBN's blocktimer.