Progressive Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) is a Philippine radio and television network owned by businessman Alfredo L. Henares with 70% equity share together with Joselito N. Pedero (15.3%) and Dennis T. Villareal (14.5%). The company was registered in the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 6, 1986. Its studios are located at Unit 4002 Summit One Tower, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong. PBC derives most of its income by selling airtime to blocktimers.

PBC's flagship UHF TV station in Mega Manila, UNTV Channel 37 (now UNTV News and Rescue) is operated and maintained by its content provider Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, Inc. (BMPI), led by veteran broadcaster and TV host "Kuya" Daniel Razon. PBC is also known for its FM station Wish 107.5 in Mega Manila, which was formerly known as NU 107 from its inception in 1987 to 2010 and Win Radio from 2010 to 2014.

History

Legislative Franchise It was granted a 25-year legislative franchise on November 19, 1991, under Republic Act (R.A.) 7163 to construct, install, operate and maintain commercial radio and TV broadcasting stations in Metro Manila, Region I, Region VI and Region VII signed by Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino. On September 23, 1995, R.A. 8162 was approved to amend its franchise extending its operations throughout the Philippines. On August 24, 2015, House Bill No. 5940 was approved by the House of Representatives and by the Senate of the Philippines on January 18, 2016, to extend PBC's franchise. On May 18, 2016, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 10820 which renewed PBC's license for another 25 years. The law grants PBC a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes, radio broadcasting stations and television stations, including digital television system, with the corresponding facilities such as relay stations, throughout the Philippines.

Radio

On August 31, 1987, an unknown radio station started broadcasting at the frequency of 107.5 on the FM band. Playing what was then known as new wave, the station aired for a month, no call letters, no jocks. When they finally announced "This is dwNU, if you're listening, please call..." After mentioning the phone number on air, the phone rang constantly for three hours.

On November 7, 2010, NU 107 made its final broadcast. On November 9, 2010, DWNU was rebranded as 107.5 Win Radio with a mass-based format. On June 26, 2014, Win Radio aired its last broadcast on 107.5 FM. Two days later, Win Radio transferred its broadcast to 91.5 FM, the frequency formerly branded as 91.5 Big Radio.

In 2014, UNTV-BMPI became the content provider for 107.5 FM. The newest station held a soft launch during UNTV's 10th anniversary concert held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City on June 26, 2014. The station was subsequently rebranded as 107.5 Wish FM, and formally launched on August 10, 2014 at the World Trade Center. Meanwhile, PBC's Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Iloilo FM stations retained the Win Radio brand. However, in 2016, after House Bill No. 5982 was passed into law, Mabuhay Broadcasting System acquired the provincial stations of PBC.

Television

In July 2001, PBC ventured to UHF television through UNTV 37. UNTV started in May 2002 as a television counterpart to NU 107, airing rock-related music videos. In its early years, UNTV gained viewers' attention through the program Strangebrew, a.k.a. Ang show na may tama. Starting in 2003, the station started airing religious content from Ang Dating Daan, a former blocktimer in SBN 21. In 2004, UNTV began airing contents from Tapatan, Inc. led by veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza. UNTV gradually reduced and eventually stopped airing rock music videos. Since then, it became a 24/7 television station, airing not only religious programs, but also news and information content. In 2007, Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, Inc. or BMPI led by veteran broadcaster Daniel Razon, took over the operations of the network, and repositioned itself as public service channel.

The transformation from its original incarnation became more distinct after a change in the pronunciation of the station's name to you-en-tee-vee or "you-en" television, rather than un-tee-vee.

Stations

UNTV

Digital Branding Callsign Channel Frequency Power LocationUNTV Manila DWAO 38 617.143 MHz 2.5 kWMetro Manila

Analog (Inactive/Defunct)

Branding Callsign Channel Power Type Location UNTV Manila DWAO 37 25 kW Originating Metro Manila UNTV Tarlac DZXT 28 1 kW Relay Tarlac City UNTV Naga DZTR 50 5 kW Relay Naga UNTV Iloilo DYNY 42 5 kW Relay Iloilo City UNTV Bacolod DYNA 28 10 kW Relay San Carlos UNTV Cebu DYNU 39 5 kW Relay Cebu City UNTV Tacloban DYNV 39 5 kW Relay Tacloban UNTV Cagayan de Oro DXNY 41 10 kW RelayCagayan de Oro UNTV Davao DXNU 51 10 kW Relay Davao City UNTV General Santos DXNV 48 5 kW Relay General Santos

FM Stations

Current

Branding Callsign Frequency Power CoverageWish 107.5 DWNU 107.5 MHz 25 kW Metro Manila

Former stations Callsign Frequency Coverage Status DYNY 107.9 MHz Iloilo City Licenses transferred to Mabuhay Broadcasting System. DYNU 107.5 MHz Cebu City DXNY 107.9 MHzCagayan de Oro DXNU 107.5 MHz Davao City DXNV 107.9 MHz General Santos Off the air. Currently licensed under Mabuhay Broadcasting System.

Television UNTV

PBC's flagship television network is UNTV, also known as UNTV News and Rescue). It was launched in July 2001 with various rebranding since then. UNTV is referred to as the “Kasangbahay Network” in reference to a Biblical passage about God's household. Its studios are located at the La Verdad Christian College Building, Bagong Barrio, EDSA Caloocan. Its future headquarters in Quezon City, the UNTV Broadcast Center, is currently under construction. In 2015, UNTV started testing ISDB-T, the approved digital terrestrial television (DTT) standard in the Philippines and is only available in Mega Manila.

UNTV Subchannels

UNTV's Social TV (STV) is a digital television subchannel with contents coming from social media creators and contributors. In 2020, it was replaced and reverted to the same video feed from UNTV News and Rescue, this time at the 1080p quality. Another UNTV digital television subchannel is Ang Dating Daan Television (ADDTV) which airs religious programs by Members Church of God International. It was later on rebranded as Truth Channel.

Radio

DWNU-FM, also known as Wish 107.5, is the flagship FM radio station of PBC. It airs music and features programs provided by Breakthrough and Milestones Production International, Inc. as its content provider.

See also Philippine television networks List of Philippine media companies

References