Manila Broadcasting Company

The Heacock era

The origins of MBC can be traced to DZRH, which first went on air as KZRH on the morning of July 15, 1939 by the Heacock Company, a prominent department store based in Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila. Years later, it bought KZRC (now DYRC) from Isaac Beck in Cebu City. The Japanese took over the stations and KZRH became PIAM (Philippine Islands AM) for their propaganda use.

The birth of MBC and 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.

Ben Aniceto began his long media career, working with DZRH, DZMB and DZPI as a radio talent.^[4]

1960s to Marcos dictatorship

When then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, MBC was temporarily closed for a few months.

In 1975, MBC ventured into the FM band when its stations DZMB and other MBC music AM stations (such as DYBU in Cebu) moved to FM radio. This would became the nucleus of MBC's Love Radio Network.

The expansion of MBC

DZRH Nationwide

In 1985, Manolo Elizalde retires. His son, Fred J. Elizalde, becomes Chairman and CEO.

After the EDSA Revolution ended the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, MBC begins to expand its FM stations (Love Radio Network) while DZRH continues to broadcast nationwide. Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. became a board member of MBC in 1988 before he became President of MBC.

In 1994, DZRH relaunched itself as "One Nation, One Station" by launching the first nationwide satellite broadcast.

On December 16, 1997, MBC launched Radyo Natin. Composed of 100 FM stations strategically across the nation by using state of the art satellite technology, Radyo Natin is able to reach audiences that has never been reached before by another radio station.

In January 1999, Hot FM was launched in Dagupan City, Cebu City, General Santos City and Zamboanga City, with more than 50 minor provincial radio stations (under the consortium with Radyo Natin).

In July 2002, MBC studios were transferred from FJE Building in Makati City to CCP Complex in Pasay City.

MBC co-hosted the Aliwan Fiesta since 2003, in partnership with Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the cities of Manila and Pasay City. Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant.

After 35 years, MBC returned to television with the launch of DZRH News Television on October 1, 2007.