Copyright (c) 2007 ABS-CBN Corporation
DZMM is the flagship station of the Radyo Patrol Network owned by ABS-CBN. It began on October 19, 1953 when DZAQ, the forerunner of DZMM was the first radio station of the former ABS (Alto Broadcasting System) of the Quirinos under President Elpidio Quirino's brother, Antonio who originally came from the pre-1953 experimental station DZBC, opened its doors as a radio station using the Filipino language in its broadcasts, following what DZBC had done before as the first ever radio station in Manila using Filipino instead of the English language used by other stations at that time.
Years later, when ABS and CBN were formally merged into a single network in 1967, DZAQ 620 kHz switched frequencies with CBN-owned DZXL 960 kHz and was later rebranded as DZAQ Radyo Patrol 960 kHz, one of the pre-martial law flagship AM stations of ABS-CBN until 1972. Orly Mercado, who was one of the station managers from 1969 to 1971, together with Ben Aniceto, came up with a vision to establish a 24-hour all-news and all-talk radio station and ABS-CBN conceptualized it under the 'Radyo Patrol' brand - the de facto successor of the ephemeral 24 hour news station DZQL Radyo Reloj, which CBN launched in 1956, and the first ever 24-hour news radio station in the country and in Southeast Asia.
The fall of the Marcos regime in the immediate aftermath of the People Power Revolution had paved the way for the return of ABS-CBN in the Philippine broadcasting scene. In April 1986, then newly formed Presidential Commission on Good Government handed over two radio stations, DWWW of RPN and DWOK of BBC, back to the network's control. DWWW then changed its callsign to DZMM and started preparations for the resumption of broadcasts. Lito Balquierda Jr., Vice-President for Radio, together with Attorney Jake Lopez and Mr. Ben Aniceto spearheaded the return of the giant network to the local broadcasting scene.
The network started recruiting both experienced and new employees including a new generation of Radyo Patrol Reporters. Their studios were initially located at the Chronicle Building in Pasig (where Benpres Corporation is currently located). After days of careful planning and a period of test broadcast which took place from 16 to 21 July 1986 alongside DWKO-FM 101.9, which started broadcasting and the network's mother TV station ABS-CBN Channel 2, which re-opened on 14 September, DZMM officially signed on the air with the new tagline "Ang Himpilan ng Malayang Mamamayan" ("Station of the Independent People") on the afternoon of 22 July 1986 at 3 pm.
Rene Jose delivered the first sign-on spiels, while Magpayo, who came from DWWW, was the first ever anchor to grace the airwaves of the new station with her program "Dear Tiya Dely", followed by other broadcast icons like Jun Ricafrente, Cesar Mortega, Ric Tierro and de Castro, newly recruited women Mel Tiangco (now with GMA Network) and Angelique Lazo (now with Radyo Veritas and PTV), as well as Ernie Baron and Kuya Cesar. "Knowledge Power", the first-ever full-length program of the station was launched. It was also the country's first-ever scholastic program on AM radio. Mario Garcia, who was part of the original Radyo Patrol core and recruited from DWAN 1206, was the first station manager, months after its reopening.
In 1989, DZMM eventually evolved into a 24-hour round-the-clock broadcast service, in keeping up with the demands of delivering the news to the listeners.
The station has a television channel aired on Sky Cable, Destiny Cable and Sky Direct, and as an exclusive news channel on digital free TV via ABS-CBN TVplus, named DZMM TeleRadyo. Launched on 12 April 2007, the channel features a simulcast of DZMM's radio programmes as well as live video feed of the radio booth itself. As a result, viewers can hear DZMM 630, and see the people currently in the studio speaking on air, or in the case of special live occasions, live video footage simulcasted on the radio station can be also seen with a clearer audio provided from the feed.
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