WRocK Online


WRocK Online was a Metro Manila FM radio station and a defunct Internet radio station owned by ACWS-United Broadcasting Network 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.

History

DWBC/RK 96 Real Radio

ACWS -United Broadcasting Network established DWBC-FM in 1972, as a simulcast of 940 kHz. In 1980, RK 96 was launched. Headed by Mike Pedero, it played Lite Rock, competing with easy listening stations DZMB 90.7 and Mellow Touch 94.7 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.
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.
On October 6, 2008, it has been announced that the Elizalde Group of Companies' Manila Broadcasting Company 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.
While the Manila radio station 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.
Since May 2010, due to lack of resources and financial challenges, it suspended its operations indefinitely. 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)

  1. Defunct since May 2007.
  2. Defunct since May 2010.

    Former DJs