RPN (TV Network)

Radio Philippines Network, Inc. (RPN) is a Philippine television and radio company based in Quezon City. It is currently owned through majority share by Nine Media Corporation of the ALC Group of Companies; along with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Far East Managers and Investors Inc. (owned by the family of Roberto Benedicto), and other private sectors. The network's main offices and flagship transmitter is located at Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle also in Quezon City. Founded by James Lindenberg, and prior to its privatization, it was the sister network of current government owned and controlled Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation; both networks were sequestered after the 1986 People Power Revolution, and formerly an attached agency of the now-PCO, which retained 20% of RPN's non-controlling shares following privatization.

Radio Philippines Network operates television stations with airtime being leased by its parent Nine Media and content provider TV5 Network, serving as primary broadcasters of RPTV. RPN also operates regional AM radio stations under the brand Radyo Ronda, serving as partial affiliate of sister station DWIZ in Metro Manila.

History

As Kanlaon Broadcasting System (1960–1975)

Early years (1960–1972)

Radio Philippines Network was founded on February 25, 1960, by James Lindenberg, who was also credited as the founder of ABS-CBN. RPN was officially established when the Congress of the Philippines approved its franchise on June 19, 1960.

RPN initially operated as a radio network, with its first station, DZBI, based in Manila. By 1967, it had expanded to seven radio stations nationwide, including DZRR and DZAX in Manila, DZBS in Baguio, DZTG in Tuguegarao, DZRL in Laoag (later relocated to Batac), DXXX in Zamboanga, and DXDX in Barangay Dadiangas. Ben Aniceto served as operations director during this time.

In the late 1960s, Lindenberg sold the network to Roberto Benedicto. The network rebranded as the Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS), named after Mount Kanlaon on the island of Negros, Benedicto’s hometown. On October 15, 1969, the network launched its flagship television station, KBS-9 Manila. KBS-12 Baguio followed later that year.

KBS's initial properties and equipment came from ABS-CBN, including its old headquarters and studios on Roxas Boulevard, along with Toshiba equipment that enabled color broadcasting. As a result, it was branded as ''Accucolor 9'', becoming the first Philippine television network to broadcast in full color.

In 1970, KBS acquired a color-capable OB van for remote broadcasts of major events, including news and sports coverage. The network also launched ''NewsWatch'', replacing the short-lived ''KBS Eyewitness Reports''. During this period, broadcast hours were limited to late afternoons until around midnight, Monday through Saturday, with transmissions starting after midday on Sundays.

By 1971, KBS had established itself as an all-color network, operating ten provincial stations located in Baguio (KBS-12), Laoag ( KBS-2), Bicol (KBS-10 in Iriga), Iloilo ( KBS-2, Bacolod ( KBS-8), Cebu (KBS-9 in Mandaue), Davao (KBS-4), General Santos (KBS-7), and Butuan (KBS-4), in addition to its flagship station, KBS-9 Manila.

Martial law KBS years and takeover of ABS-CBN (1972–1975)

On September 23, 1972, the KBS television and radio stations and the newspaper publication ''Philippines Daily Express'', all belonging to the Roberto Benedicto group, were allowed to operate during the martial law period with the former airing ''Wacky Races'' and Francisco Tatad's reading of Proclamation No. 1081, where most of the media outfits were closed down after the declaration of martial law with Proclamation No. 1081 by Ferdinand Marcos.

On September 28, 1972, Marcos ordered the takeover of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and turned over its facilities to KBS, controlled by Benedicto. ABS-CBN's facilities were later transferred from KBS to the government-owned Maharlika Broadcasting System. Crony-owned media companies broadcast or published news and entertainment meant to project a positive image for the dictatorship and conceal its abuses.

In 1973, RPN brought the first slow-motion production machine to support the live coverage of the MICAA basketball games. Color production with color-ready equipment would enable the government to invest in RPN for color coverages of national events, as then state network GTV (now PTV), which began two years later after the beginning of martial law, was mostly monochrome before its first color broadcasts in 1976. In 1974, the KBS network grew with the opening of more stations in Tuguegarao (KBS-9), Bayombong (KBS-7), Legazpi (KBS-2), Palawan (KBS-5), Roxas (KBS-7), Dumaguete (KBS-5 moved to RPN-8), Tacloban (KBS-5), Zamboanga ( KBS-5), Dipolog (KBS-5), Pagadian (KBS-5), Ozamiz (KBS-13), Cagayan de Oro ( KBS-5), Surigao (KBS-4) and Cotabato (KBS-10).

The first Radio Philippines Network (1975–1989)

Benedicto ownership (1975–1986)

In 1975, KBS formally relaunched as RPN, the acronym for its franchise name, Radio Philippines Network (the RPN name was first used in the provincial stations before the RPN brand would later be used for the Manila station as well; the KBS name was also used for other aspects such as KBS Sports until 1986).

The network covered special events such as the Olympic Games (it is also the first sporting coverage to broadcast in full color), Thrilla in Manila in 1975; and also became the official broadcaster for the Miss Universe pageant held in Manila in 1974, and the first Metropop Song Festival and its succeeding editions from 1978. The network also headlined some top-rated programs such as ''John en Marsha'' (which both the media and academe regarded the show as the paradigm of development communication), ''Flordeluna'' and ''Superstar'' (formerly known as ''The Nora Aunor-Eddie Peregrina Show''). RPN became the birthplace and the first home of the now longest running daytime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' (premiering in 1979); as well as the longest running game show on Philippine television '' Family Kuarta o Kahon'' hosted by Pepe Pimentel (originally aired on ABS-CBN then BBC-2); the latter program had enjoyed its successful 38 year run until it finally pulled the plug during the year 2000.

The network pioneered the use of computer graphics for their program plugs and station IDs. It also became the only network in the country known for its broadcasts of its easily recognizable digital clock embedded on the lower left part of the screen during the entire broadcast day except for newscasts, commercials, continuity plugs, station ID, and during sign-off. It eventually became the centerpiece of the network's broadcasts for 32 years (starting in 1975), and viewers have been setting their watches and clocks to RPN through the years, until it was abandoned at the end of 2007. After the fire that razed its first studios on June 6, 1973, RPN moved to the Broadcast Plaza (now ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center) in the same year, and to its current Broadcast City home in July 1978, alongside sister networks Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).

RPN also aired anime and syndicated programs from the United States. RPN was the first network to cover the Philippine Basketball Association games live in 1975 (and 1977), before the broadcasts moved on to BBC in 1976.

On January 15, 1980, RPN began to broadcast primetime programs through its new domestic satellite technology (DOMSAT) in which the 1980s logo resembles a satellite antenna. On May 18, 1982, ''Eat Bulaga!'' was also included to the list of the network's DOMSAT-simulcast programs. This made RPN the first national network to achieve nationwide program simulcasting via satellite in 24 TV stations across the Philippines.

The network also became home to, from 1978 up to the early 1980s, the Super Sentai series and tokusatsu programs. In 1982, the network to adopted ''The Leader'' as its official slogan, coupled with its Number 9 and the red corporate logos (the latter which is still the current logo of the network up to this day). In 1986, after the assumption of office of President Corazon Aquino, the government sequestered Radio Philippines Network for allegedly being part of the crony capitalism under the Marcos regime. During the live broadcast of Marcos' inauguration from the Malacañang Palace during the last day of the People Power Revolution, rebels shut down the RPN transmitter on Panay Avenue, and it resumed broadcasts again on March 3, 1986.

First downfall and sequestration (1986-1989)

After the People Power Revolution which ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president in February 1986, the stock and assets of RPN, IBC and BBC were sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). President Corazon Aquino awarded BBC's Channel 2 frequency and its affiliates, through an executive order, to ABS-CBN, and RPN's and IBC's assets were turned over to the Government Communications Group and placed under the management of a Board of Administrators tasked to operate and manage its business and affairs subject to the control and supervision of Presidential Commission on Good Government.

The period saw a major decline for RPN as its resources became outdated and endured major mismanagement which led to the network either shutting down or selling its stations. From being number 1 in the ratings, RPN's ratings slumped, due to the growth of GMA Radio-Television Arts and PTV, and more importantly as a result of ABS-CBN's meteoric rise to the number 1 spot in 1988.

During the post-EDSA Revolution era, RPN launched the first Filipino-created animated series, Ang Panday. By 1989, some of RPN's programming such as ''John en Marsha'' and ''Superstar'' were cancelled, and TAPE Inc.'s daytime programs ''Eat Bulaga!'', '' Agila'' and ''Coney Reyes on Camera'' (a co-production with Coney Reyes' CAN Television) moved under a co-production agreement to ABS-CBN, as they saw the resurgent network as a vital element in the sustaining of the three shows' success. By then, the once-dominant RPN had fallen to 4th place, trailing far behind ABS-CBN and GMA and locked in a losing battle with PTV for 3rd place.

New Vision 9 (1989–1994)

In October 8, 1989, RPN was renamed as New Vision 9 to recoup lost audience share in the ratings game of Philippine television networks. At the same year, New Vision 9 transmitter's effective radiated power was increased to 1 million watts, ensuing clearer and better signal reception in the Greater Luzon Area. The rebrand took place after RPN and Syndicated Media Access Corporation (SMAC) took over the network's management and marketing. The rebranding, although it proved futile in the turnaround of RPN's ratings, did make history for the network as it pioneered 24-hour television broadcasting in the Philippines. During the latter part of the New Vision 9 era, its ratings further suffered at last place in primetime (behind ABS-CBN, GMA, ABC, IBC, and PTV). Worse yet, RPN's nationwide reach suffered as well as its TV network – In 1989 it composed 24 TV stations nationwide (8 originating stations and 16 relay stations).

By then, RPN not only had to deal with the continued dominance of ABS-CBN and GMA, but also the return of another station shut down during martial law, ABC, and the onset of cable and UHF channels which started to eat up the audience shares of the least-watched networks.

The second Radio Philippines Network (1994–2007)

Telenovela dominance, emphasis on world-class primetime programming (1994–2003)

In 1994, New Vision 9 was renamed back as Radio Philippines Network (RPN) and in the same year, RPN became the second VHF television network in the Philippines to broadcast in full surround stereo (after GMA Network introduced StereoVision in 1987). Following this, RPN managed to recover in primetime ratings, from being dead last in 1994 to fifth place in 1995, beating PTV (which by then suffered a major blow after losing the rights to one of its top-raters, the PBA games, to IBC). This, along with it being number 3 in daytime ratings, helped RPN to challenge ABC for third place in total day ratings.

In 1996, the network quickly regained its foothold when it began to broadcast a Tagalog dub of the 1994 Mexican telenovela ''Marimar'', which turned out to be a phenomenal success, and discombobulating the competition for some time.

The network became the driving force in Tagalog-dubbed foreign programs and movies and made the popular and turnaround its ratings on the evening prime time. Due to the success, the other networks followed and broadcast telenovelas not only from Mexico but also Spanish language telenovelas from the United States, Colombia (GMA Network's ''Betty La Fea''), Venezuela (GMA Network's ''Samantha'' and '' All My Love'') and Argentina (GMA Network's '' Monica Brava'') and eventually even drama series from Brazil (ABS-CBN's '' Ana Manuela'') and Asian drama series from Taiwan (notably '' Meteor Garden'') and South Korea (notably '' Bright Girl''). The network also became the home of the cream of the crop amongst the English language television programs around the world with its strong primetime programming line-up.

This lineup helped RPN maintain its overall 4th place standing in the ratings during the latter half of the 90s, despite later facing competition with UHF stations such as ABS-CBN's Studio 23, which offered more canned programs compared to most VHF stations. In 1999, RPN slid again to fifth place behind ABC, but managed to recover its 4th place standing the following year until early 2003.

Second downfall (2003–2007)

In the mid-2000s, a major network war in the ratings game ensued with the battle of the Taiwanese/Korean-language television series (which started through ABS-CBN's broadcast of Taiwanese series '' Meteor Garden'') between the two leading networks, ABS-CBN and GMA, causing RPN into decline in the telenovelas battle.

On February 19, 2004, Republic Act No. 9250 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo renewed RPN its congressional franchise for another 25 years. It was also in the same year when the network launched its primetime block, dubbed as The Prime Shift, blocktimed by Solar Entertainment Corporation. The said programming block lasted until 2006 – largely due to continued financial turmoil – shrunk to 24 TV Stations to just 8 TV Stations by 2007.

Solar Entertainment era (2007–2014)

Blocktime with Solar, as C/S; C/S9; Solar TV (2007–2011)

On March 11, 2007, after its initial tieup with ''The Prime Shift'' block, RPN announced a partnership with Solar Entertainment Corporation, an operator of a number of cable channels in the country. The company began co-producing new programming for the network, such as a local version of the ''Top Model'' franchise. The network underwent management changes on December 24, 2007, as Tonypet Albano (undersecretary and executive director of Malacañang's Office of Political Coalition Affairs and Deputy Spokesperson of TEAM Unity, now Vice-Governor of Isabela) was appointed chairman of the network (replacing Education Undersecretary Mona Valisno, incumbent Presidential Assistant for Education). Undersecretary Robert Rivera was appointed director of the board, while the president and chief executive officer became former senator Orlando "Orly" Mercado.

Mercado's first major move was to expand their partnerships with Solar Entertainment. Programming from Solar's cable network C/S was added to RPN's lineup at the beginning of the new year, and PBA basketball would also return to the network beginning in the 2008–09 season, as part of Solar Sports' new three-year deal with the league after an expiration of ABC's contract due to the network's rebranding as TV5, because of the blocktime agreement with Malaysian-based Media Prima Berhad subsidiary MPB Primedia, Inc. and intense bidding war with ABS-CBN.

In October 2008, RPN's stations ultimately took on the C/S name as part of their permanent branding, and rebranded itself as C/S 9. On November 29, 2009, the network re-branded again under the new name Solar TV. In late 2010, it was revealed that RPN would no longer carry PBA games, due to planned network re-launch to occur in 2011, with more "feminine" programming.

Privatization; as ETC (2011–2013)

In 2010, the Philippine government began to actively consider privatizing RPN and IBC. Ricardo Abcede, member of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), supported the plans, noting that the government should not need to subsidize three state broadcasters when most countries only have one, and could gain a significant profit if they were sold to a major company willing to invest in the stations.

In January 2011, reports confirmed that Solar Entertainment Corporation, through Solar TV Network, and Roberto Benedicto's daughter Kitchie Benedicto now owned a 34% minority share in RPN. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. also began to hold meetings with the network's employees union to discuss the financial state of RPN as part of the planned privatization.Malacanang sets dialogue with RPN-9 union
''ABS-CBNnews.com.'' February 20, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011. On February 22, 2011, RPN's employees filed a strike notice, protesting a rumored shutdown of RPN on February 25, and accusing the government of attempting to privatize RPN without actively consulting its employees.

On February 25, 2011, RPN signed off temporarily in preparation for a relaunch as ETC on March 2, 2011. Additional shares in RPN were sold to Far East Managers and Investors Inc. (FEMI), an organization company affiliated with Ambassador Roberto Benedicto. The government would retain People's Television Network to serve as the sole state broadcaster of the country. However, after privatization, RPN retrenched 200 employees and stopped the production of RPN NewsWatch, its last RPN-produced program, on October 29, 2012, as Solar TV took over the entire RPN's airtime.

As Solar News Channel (2013–2014)

In November 2013, it was reported that San Miguel Corporation President and COO Ramon S. Ang was interested in acquiring Solar Television Network.

On November 30, 2013, ETC returned to SBN while Solar News Channel moved to RPN since the following day to widen its nationwide telecast. (SBN broadcasts ETC from 2008 to 2011)

Nine Media era (2014–present)

As 9TV (2014–2015)

On January 3, 2014, RPN and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) signed a memorandum of agreement for the expanded coverage of both the TV and radio networks nationwide. Selected DWIZ programs will be simulcast on the Radyo Ronda Network.

On August 20, 2014, Solar Entertainment Corporation chief Wilson Tieng announced that he ceded his entire share on Solar TV Network, Inc., including its 34% majority share on RPN, to Antonio Cabangon Chua, owner of business daily ''BusinessMirror'' and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation. Tieng sold Solar TV because they are losing money for operations and he will be focusing instead on the remaining television channels he personally owned through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

To reflect the change of ownership, on August 13, 2014, Solar Television Network and RPN announced the rebranding of Solar News Channel into 9TV by August 23, dropping the Solar branding.
9TV retained the news and current affairs programming while expanding its weekend programming to cater more audiences with the launching of ''Kids Weekend'', ''Small Acts, Big Stories'', ''Something to Chew On'' and ''Boys Ride Out''.

However, the 9TV branding was done to transition from the Tieng to the Cabangon-Chua ownership. On October 14, 2014, Nine Media Corporation (formerly Solar Television Network) inked a 5-year brand licensing agreement with the Turner Broadcasting System to rebrand 9TV into CNN Philippines as the Philippine franchisee of CNN, and the third local CNN channel in Asia (after CNN Indonesia and India's CNN-IBN). CNN Philippines was officially launched on March 16, 2015.

As CNN Philippines (2015–2024)

On March 16, 2015, 9TV started broadcasting on CNN Philippines brand. CNN Philippines is the seventh rebrand of Radio Philippines Network since its inception as Kanlaon Broadcasting System. It dropped the transitional brand 9TV after seven months of operations under such brand. The new brand reflects the CNN format of news reporting with news from the Philippines.

In 2017, RPN and Nine Media Corporation acquired its UHF transmitter complex in Crestview Heights Subdivision, Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal from Progressive Broadcasting Corporation to use RPN's Digital terrestrial television broadcast in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

On December 22, 2023, TV5 Network entered into an acquired agreement with RPN's parent company, Nine Media Corporation to broadcast the longest-running and Number 1 noontime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' and selected games from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) every Saturday and Sunday on CNN Philippines starting January 6, 2024. This marks the return of the two programs previously aired on RPN to strengthen CNN Philippines' weekend line-up.

However on January 25, 2024, ''Media Newser Philippines'' reported that Nine Media Corporation and CNN agreed to shut down CNN Philippines by mutual agreement due to financial losses as well as poor ratings of the network and loss of advertisers' support. While CNN is still weighing in for its future options, RPN was officially played the looping logo plug of its new branded station, RPTV, after CNN Philippines officially closed its operations around 10 PM.

On January 29, 2024, CNN Philippines confirmed that it had ceased live news productions effective immediately, and to be dissolved entirely on January 31, citing financial losses and to shift its focus on the operations of their sister channel, Aliw Channel 23.

As RPTV (2024–present)

On January 31, 2024, Bilyonaryo.com reported that TV5 Network partners with Nine Media and RPN to carry its selected sports, news and entertainment programming including Eat Bulaga! and PBA games alongside classic RPN shows and programs originally produced by Nine Media under its channel's new branding RPTV, which launched the following day. Selected programs from One PH and Radyo5 True FM are also airing on RPTV, marking its return to analog free-to-air television after 5 years since AksyonTV's closure. On February 6, 2024, the partnership was formalized after MediaQuest Holdings, TV5, and Nine Media signed a content distribution, sales and marketing services agreement for the new channel.

Programming

RPTV programs

RPTV programming consists of simulcast and reruns of original TV5 and its sister channels programs including ''Eat Bulaga!'' and '' PBA'' games that was first aired simultaneously on CNN Philippines before its closure on January 31, 2024, as well as ''Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5'' and ''Wanted sa Radyo''.

Previous RPN-produced programs

RPN stations nationwide

See also

* Nine Media News and Current Affairs

References

External links

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{{Radio in the Philippines

Television networks in the Philippines
Philippine radio networks
Television in Metro Manila
Mass media companies of the Philippines
Television channels and stations established in 1960
English-language television stations in the Philippines
Nine Media Corporation
Peabody Award winners
Mass media companies established in 1960
Television channels and stations established in 1969
Companies based in Quezon City
Privately held companies of the Philippines
Philippine companies established in 1960