There is a major shake-up looming for Manila’s FM radio band.
Starting Monday, November 4, Mediaquest-owned Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) will be moving Radyo5 True FM to a new home.
The said radio station — which will turn 14 years old next Friday, November 8 — will transfer out of its current space at 92.3 MHz in Mega Manila and instead take over the 105.9 FM frequency in the region, which is home to music station Neo Retro.
In a statement, NBC said that these upcoming changes is in line with the launch of True Network, “a multi-platform strategy that brings True FM’s award-winning news and public service entertainment programs to broadcast radio, TV, podcasts, amd digital channels.”
As part of the True Network approach, NBC will formally establish True TV on the channel 19 slot of affiliate Cignal TV on November 4.
Moreover, the programs like ‘Wanted Sa Radyo,’ ‘Ted Failon at DJ Chacha,’ and ‘Frontline Pilipinas,’ among others, will be simultaneously heard nationwide via the new True FM 105.9 in Mega Manila and 106.7 in Davao, as well as its current stations in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc, and Tacloban.
NBC’s General Manager, Raul Dela Cruz, said that the Mediaquest subsidiary will continue to support the “momentum that we have built for True FM and develop new audiences on TV, podcasts, and digital.”
All of these changes come as the current 92.3 FM frequency is set to transform itself as the new flagship national station of Favorite Music (FM) Radio owned by Philippine Collective Media Corporation (PCMC).
“The parties [NBC and PCMC] are in discussion for the transfer of NBC’s radio assets in favor of PCMC, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other commercial terms,” NBC’s statement continued.
While the process is ongoing, both companies will enter into a blocktime and content licensing agreement.
The new Favorite Music Radio 92.3 FM is due to become the sister station of DWPM Radyo 630, owned by the PCMC-ABS-CBN joint venture Media Serbisyo Corporation.
At the moment, there is still limited information available on the personalities and programs that will be part of the new FMR station in the region.