DWRR-FM (pronounced as DW-double-R; 101.9 FM Stereo), broadcasting as MOR 101.9, was a commercial radio station owned by ABS-CBN Corporation and previously operated by the Manila Radio division and the Star Creatives Group. Broadcast live throughout the Philippine archipelago, and throughout the world via The Filipino Channel (TFC), it was the flagship FM station of MOR Philippines and the number 1 FM radio station in Metro Manila, Mega Manila as well as the entire Philippines according to KBP Radio Research Council. The studios were located at ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., corner Mo. Ignacia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, and the station's 22.5 kW FM stereo transmitter was located at the Eugenio Lopez Center, Santa Cruz, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo, Rizal.
DWRR was founded in 1956 as one of the radio stations of Chronicle Broadcasting Network (now ABS-CBN). It was revived in 1986 and reformatted several times. On May 5, 2020, it suspended its broadcasting activities, together with that of its television and sister radio stations, following a cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission due to the expiration of ABS-CBN's legislative franchise to operate. The online radio permanently ceased operations on August 28, 2020, as a result of a franchise denial made by the House of Representatives on July 10, 2020.
History
DZYL-FM/DZYK-FM/DZMM-FM (1956–1972) DZYL-FM 102 MHz, later named DZYK-FM 102.1 MHz, was the first FM radio station in the Philippines and sole FM station of the former Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN). It was founded in 1956 and played the latest songs of that era. In 1957, CBN bought Alto Broadcasting System (ABS), resulting in a merger under the name Bolinao Electronics Corporation, which was changed in 1967 to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Staffed by eight DJs, the station was popularized to listeners in the Greater Manila area. In 1968, DZYK-FM moved to 101.9 MHz and changed its call letters to DZMM-FM.
DWWK-FM/OK 101 (1973–1986) DZMM-FM remained the FM radio station of ABS-CBN until 1972, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and all ABS-CBN stations, including two TV channels and six AM radio stations in Manila, were shut down under strict censorship. The FM station was taken over by Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation in 1973 and the station's callsign was changed to DWWK-FM. As DWWK-FM, the station became best known for its the jazz format (1979 to 1984). It was staffed by Jing Magsaysay, Wayne Enage, Ed Picson, Dody Lacuna, Ronnie Malig, Pinky Villarama and Ronnie Quintos. In 1984, the call sign and format was changed to DWOK-FM, the first "AM-formatted" FM station, featuring news, public service programs, and music from the yesteryears. Helen Vela also came to DWOK with her counselling program Lovingly Yours, Helen.
Knock Out Radio (1986–1987) During the 1986 People Power Revolution, the government-controlled radio and TV stations were stormed by reformist rebels and DWOK, DWAN (formerly known as DWWA) and BBC-2 were dissolved, and in July, after the fall of the Marcos regime, the newly formed Presidential Commission on Good Governance returned DWOK together with DWWW (630 kHz) to ABS-CBN. DWOK changed its callsign to DWKO and resumed broadcasting on a test basis on July 16. Lito Balquiedra Jr., Vice-President for Radio, spearheaded the return of the network to the local broadcasting scene. The station's former disc jockey Peter Musñgi (then known as Peter Rabbit) became the network's voice-over and voiced the station's new slogan, "Panalo Ka Talaga!". Sister station DZMM 630 began broadcasting the following week.
The network started recruiting both experienced and new employees and DJs. On September 14, 1986, the testing period ended and DWKO-FM was relaunched under the name Knock-Out Radio 101.9, the first FM radio station with an AM format. It operated daily from 5:00 am to 2:00 am, playing the latest Pinoy hits by artists such as Rico J. Puno, Yoyoy Villame, and APO Hiking Society, as well as OPM stars such as Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Janno Gibbs, and Donna Cruz, as well as Filipino Christmas songs. The parent TV station ABS-CBN Channel 2 resumed broadcasting the same day. At this time the ABS-CBN stations were known as the Star Network.
DWKO-FM ended its broadcasts on February 28, 1987, a span of almost five months, one of the station's shortest-lived iterations.