WRocK Online

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.

WRocK Online
CityMetro Manila (1972-2010)
Broadcast areaWorldwide through Hayag
BrandingWRocK Online
Slogan"Less Talk, More Lite Rock"
"The Heart of Lite Rock"
Programming
FormatSoft AC
Ownership
OwnerACWS - United Broadcasting Network
History
First air date1972 (as DWBC)
1980 (as RK96 Real Radio)
October 15, 1988 (as 96.3 WRocK)
October 2008 (as WRocK Online)
Last air dateMay 2010
Former call signsDWBC-FM (1972-1980)
DWRK (1980-2008)
Former frequencies96.3 MHz (1972 - 2008)
Links
WebsiteWRocK Online site (dead link)

History

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 Lite Rock, competing with easy listening stations DZMB 90.7 (now 90.7 Love Radio) and Mellow Touch 94.7 (now Mellow 947) 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.[1]

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.[2]

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)
Branding Callsign Frequency Power (kW) Coverage
DWBC 14221 DWBC-AM 1422 kHz 10 kW Metro Manila
WRocK Online2 Link Internet
96.7 WRocK Bacolod2 DYKR 96.7 MHz 5 kW Bacolod
96.3 WRocK Cebu DYRK 96.3 MHz 10 kW Cebu
  1. Defunct since May 2007.
  2. Defunct since May 2010.

Former DJs
  • Cherry Bayle (now with Radyo5 92.3 News FM)
  • Martha Del Rosario
  • Naomi Villa
  • Butch Allen
  • Mark Fournier
  • Jay Walk
  • Jimmy Dean
  • Ron Williams
  • Brian Penty
  • Dominic (now voiceover of Jeepney TV)
  • Noel Oliveros
  • Dylan Thomas
  • Joven
  • Rick
  • Paul (now an alternate voiceover of GMA Network)
  • Sandy
  • Angie Librea (Newscaster)
  • Lianne (Newscaster)
  • Faith Gonzalvo (Newscaster)
  • Sean Thomas

Awards
  • 2000 Best FM Station in KBP Golden Dove Awards

Compilations of 96.3 WRocK
  • 20 Years Of Lite Rock (Viva Records, 2008)
  • Love That Could've Been. But Could Never Be (MCA Music, 2008)
gollark: They also gave people custom hardware (micro:bits), which probably isn't great either since people won't realize you can just do programming stuff on a regular home computer or laptop to automate annoying tasks and whatnot.
gollark: But then they only get taught random details about some car components, and then build cars out of paper.
gollark: It's like if someone said "cars are vital to the modern economy, so our children need to learn how to ~~use cars~~ build cars from scratch".
gollark: Not one which needs to be taught in schools over possibly more important things (not that schools teach many important things).
gollark: Not very related, but I am quite annoyed by the government here (UK)'s push to make everyone "code" as if it's the most important thing ever.

References
  1. 96.3 Pakshet101 WordPress - "goodbye WRocK, thanks for the memories"
  2. "Elizaldes' Manila Broadcasting acquires 96.3 Wrock". Archived from the original on 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
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