DWRK

DWRK (96.3 FM), broadcasting as 96.3 Easy Rock, is a radio station owned and operated by Manila Broadcasting Company. It serves as the flagship station of Easy Rock Network. The station's studio is located at the MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, and its transmitter facilities are located at the BSA Twin Towers, Bank Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, sharing the same site with sister stations 90.7 Love Radio and 101.1 Yes The Best.

Easy Rock is the most listened to easy-listening radio station preferred by listeners, especially in the office, and also by motorists in Metro Manila, as conducted by Nielsen Radio Research Survey.

History

1980–1988: Real Radio

ACWS-United Broadcasting Network established DWBC-FM in 1972, as a simulcast of 940 kHz. On February 4, 1980, It was reformatted as RK96 Real Radio then split of simulcast for DWBC-FM, also changed its callsign to DWRK, headed by Mike Pedero.

During 1986, Mike Pedero left the station after six years and transferred to Citylite 88.3 (now Jam 88.3).

1988–2009: WRocK

The station underwent rebranding and reformat as 96.3 WRocK with a Lite Rock format on October 15, 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". Back then, its studios were located at the FEMS Tower 1 along Osmeña Highway, San Andres, Manila. 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 Bayle (now with Radyo5 92.3 News FM) and Dylan Thomas.

Because of ACWS-UBN's financial difficulties, not to mention the station's intense competition with other stations (Magic 89.9, WRR 101.9 For Life!), it was announced on October 6, 2008, that the Elizalde Group of Companies' Manila Broadcasting Company has purchased the station from the Hodreal-owned ACWS-UBN for . Except for the acquisition price, further terms were not disclosed.

2009–present: Easy Rock

On October 26, 2008, WRocK signed off permanently on its frequency, but revived as an online station. After that, MBC scrapped all programs associated with WRocK, and even ACWS-UBN. The new "WRocK" played automated music and some liners from its new DJs. MBC tried its best to maintain DWRK's upscale and niche-market on-air identity and programming format as 96.3 WRocK from October 2008 to May 17, 2009, unlike many other stations which reformatted immediately after being sold. In December 2008, its studios moved from FEMS Tower 1 in Manila to the Star City Complex in Pasay next to its new sister stations.

On May 18, 2009, DWRK rebranded as 96.3 Easy Rock, ending almost 21 years of broadcasting under the WRocK brand to reflect the change. This was MBC's first venture into class A, B & C market.

On October 2, 2019, the main studios of 96.3 Easy Rock at the MBC Building, CCP Complex in Pasay, along with its sister MBC Manila radio stations, were affected by a major fire that originated in the nearby Star City theme park. In interim, Easy Rock broadcast from its backup studio in BSA Twin Towers in Mandaluyong, where its transmitter is located.

On November 15, 2021, after a two-year hiatus, Easy Rock Manila studios, along with sister stations Love Radio Manila and Yes! The Best Manila, returned to the newly renovated MBC Building inside the Star City complex, which was still under rehabilitation and reconstruction. At the same day, MBC relaunched its new corporate slogan, ''Sama-Sama Tayo, Pilipino!'' (lit. ''We are all Filipinos!'') along with the new logos of all MBC radio stations.

Roster

Current DJs

*Samantha
*Chloe
*Nick
*Shai

Former DJs

*Denise (deceased)
*Justin Taylor
*Kim
*Franscine
*Jay

Programming

Monday-Friday

*Samantha - 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM
*Chloe - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
*Nick - 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
*Shai - 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Saturday & Sunday

*Music Automation (all day)

Theme music

From 1988 until May 17, 2009, the jingles were resings from 93.7 K-Lite's jingle package from TM Studios. It also had versions recorded by various local artists, including Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, The CompanY, Kuh Ledesma, Lea Salonga, Bituin Escalante etc. as part of its "Why does this singer have lite rock on his/her radio?" campaign. Since 2010, it has been exclusively heard on the surviving WRocK station, DYRK in Cebu.

On May 18, 2009, along with the rebrand, it used the ''Delilah'' jingle package from ReelWorld, since it ironically has the same tune as that of K-Lite's. 96.3 Easy Rock Gets Jingles from ReelWorld
/ref> Acapella versions of their jingles were used during their Monday program ''Remember Someone Today'' from October 2012 to February 2020.

On December 3, 2021, a few weeks after relaunching its logo, its jingle package was also revamped after 12 years, this time using the Easy Radio jingle package from ReelWorld while keeping the iconic melody of the station. (ReelWorld also produced jingles for its sister stations Love Radio and Yes The Best.)

HD Radio operations

At present, 96.3 Easy Rock is also heard via digital HD Radio via the HD1 channel. The HD2 channel carries the simulcast of Radyo Natin Nationwide, a hometown-formatted national radio station owned by MBC affiliate Radyo Natin Network. The HD3 channel carries a simulcast of sister AM station DZRH.

References

External links

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{{coord missing, Metro Manila

Adult contemporary radio stations in the Philippines
Easy Rock Network stations
Radio stations in Metro Manila
Radio stations established in 1972
1972 establishments in the Philippines