DZRH

The Heacock era

DZRH first went on air as KZRH on July 15, 1939,^[3] after being founded by Samuel Gaches, the owner of H. E. Heacock Company, a department store based in Escolta, Binondo, Manila. KZRH, which was then broadcasting using the frequency of 650 kHz with the power of 10,000 watts; and became the fourth commercial radio station in the Philippines. Later in 1940, it bought KZRC (now DYRC) from Isaac Beck in Cebu City. KZRH's radio broadcasts centered on musical, variety shows, comedy skits and short newscasts. Jazz and ballads became standard fare.

During the Second World War, the Imperial Japanese troops took over the stations, and KZRH was rebranded PIAM ("Philippine Islands AM"), becoming a tool for the Second Republic's propaganda.^[4]

The birth and expansion of DZRH

After World War II, the Elizalde brothers (Federico "Fred", Joaquin Miguel "Mike" and Manuel "Manolo") took over KZRH and KYRC. With the help of station manager Bertrand Silen, KZRH transferred its operations to the Insular Life Building in Plaza Cervantes. In June 1946, the Elizaldes established the network under the Manila Broadcasting Company (incorporated in September 30, 1947).

KZRH returned to the airwaves on July 1, 1946. On July 4, 1946, it aired the live coverage of the Philippine independence from the United States and the inauguration of the third Philippine Republic.

In 1948, after the international telecommunications conference in the United States where the Philippines changed its first letter to "D", KZRH changed its callsign to DZRH, and has been expanded to over 30 stations nationwide. The same year, MBC launched its sister station in Manila, DZMB and DZPI.

In 1949, DZRH began airing the first radio drama, Gulong ng Palad ("Wheel of Fortune"). Radio drama is one of the traditions of Philippine radio before the rise of television industry and continues until today this time on the FM band (only Ito ang Palad Ko, "This is my fate", one of the longest-running drama anthology series since 1973).

Martial Law and People Power

In 1972, when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, DZRH was temporarily closed for a few months. It was reopened but only under strict government censorship.^[5] It was the only other time in DZRH’s history since the Second World War that the station's broadcast operations were interrupted.

In 1978, DZRH moved from 650 kHz to the current frequency at 666 kHz due to the switch of the Philippine AM dial from the NARBA-mandated 10 kHz spacing to the 9 kHz rule implemented by the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975. In the same year, DZRH launched Operation Tulong ("Help"), a socio-civic organization that helps the people in time of need.

In February 1986, the station covered the controversial snap elections and the ensuing People Power Revolution that peacefully deposed President Marcos and installed President Corazon Aquino.

In 1989, DZRH celebrated its 50th golden anniversary by launching "50 Taon ng Radyo" ("50 years of radio") on Sunday, July 23, 1989. Ceremonies and events held at Rizal Memorial Stadium and Araneta Coliseum included parades, games, concerts, as well as outdoor and indoor fireworks displays.

In 1991, radio veteran Joe Taruc joined the station, where he hosted Damdaming Bayan which is now the longest-running public affairs program, as well as a morning newscast. Aside from being a newscaster, he was also station manager, and later, Senior Vice-President until his death in September 2017.

In 1994, as part of their 55th anniversary, DZRH launched its own nationwide satellite radio broadcast reaching 97% of the Philippine populace. Thus, the slogan is "One Nation, One Station", and at the same time, DZRH became the first AM station to broadcast in full AM stereo. It also bought some of the broadcast veterans such as Jay Sonza, Rey Langit and Ka Louie Beltran.

Present

In October 2007, DZRH once again ventured into television broadcasting with the launch of DZRH RadyoVision (which is not related to the now defunct VHF TV station DZRH-TV Channel 11), which was renamed RHTV in 2008 and DZRH News Television in 2013. The channel is currently being seen on Cignal Channel 18, SkyCable Channel 129, CableLink Channel 3 and some cable TV affiliates nationwide, on Digital Terrestrial TV Channel 43 in Cebu City, and worldwide via livestreaming on their official website. It is also the first cable channel to broadcast via Facebook Live by mirroring the live stream of DZRH News Television to the Facebook servers.

In 2009, DZRH celebrated its 70th anniversary by launching of the "Fiesta Sitenta" as well as the launch of its first ever theme song for the station. In the final quarter of 2011, DZRH did changes in their programming line-up as well as the adoption of the new slogan "RH Agad!" ("RH right now"). In 2012, DZRH launched its new slogan, Ang Makabagong Bayanihan ("The Modern Spirit of Volunteerism") and also includes the theme song of the station.

DZRH celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on July 15, 2014 at the Manila Hotel with the launching of the coffee-table book and the special commemorative stamp courtesy of PhilPost.^[6] In 2015, DZRH celebrated its 76th anniversary with the theme "76 Taon ng Balita at Serbisyo" ("76 years of News and Service"). In 2016, DZRH celebrated its 77th anniversary with the theme "77 Years: Serbisyong tapat sa inyo". In 2017, DZRH celebrated its 78th anniversary with the theme "78 taon ng Tamang Balita at Tamang Serbisyo sa Bawat Pilipino".

On May 2017, Deo Macalma, who has been working with the station since 1980 as a news writer, was promoted as the Vice President and Station Manager, replacing Atty. Regie Jularbal, who will be headed the AM Operations of MBC as its Vice President.